This post is sponsored by PSECU, a Pennsylvania-based credit union. See our FTC disclosure at the end. 

It’s been a long time since employers first began to offer health insurance to their employees, and a lot has changed since then. For one thing, health experts now know that preventative care is more cost-effective than medical treatment. And, of course, preventing disease also saves people from unnecessary suffering. That’s why many employers adopt employee wellness programs.

These wellness programs provide everything from free gym memberships to workplace nutrition counseling, all geared toward cultivating healthy lifestyles.

6 Long-Term Benefits of Investing in Employee Wellness Programs

Here are six long-term benefits of designing an employee wellness program.

1) Healthier Staff

Of course, the biggest perk of offering an employee wellness program is that the entire staff becomes healthier. When a program provides healthy eating options, makes it easier (and cheaper) to get to the gym, and enlists an on-site health expert to consult with employees, staff members receive all the tools they need to live long, healthy and happy lives. That’s a reward for the effort all on its own!

2) Improved Atmosphere

Many employers have heard some buzz surrounding the concept of “company culture” lately and for good reason. Employees today look for more than just a paycheck. They also want to spend the majority of their weeks in a place where they feel fulfilled and valued. When a company rolls out an employee wellness program, the program may boost employee engagement, thereby elevating the company’s culture. Ep. 131- Culture Conversations: How to Create and Foster a Company Culture talks more about how to achieve this. 

3) Decrease in Turnover

If staffers are happy and healthy, they’re less likely to seek employment elsewhere. So when a boss offers staff members the benefits of an employee wellness program, they might find that they have less and less turnover and more and more employees who feel truly invested in the workplace. Crack the formula to employee turnover. 

4) Productivity Boost

When someone eats well and exercises regularly, they enjoy more energy and a clearer mind. So it makes sense that an employee wellness program could help to improve a work team’s productivity. When they feel better, they’re able to work harder and more efficiently!

5) Drop in Healthcare Costs

Companies blow a good portion of their profits on health insurance for their employees. While this expenditure is, of course, a necessary and good practice, it doesn’t have to be such a costly investment.

Employee wellness programs may help to prevent or manage lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, which could ultimately save money on health insurance. What’s more, the healthcare system as a whole will benefit from fewer hospitalizations and lower treatment costs.

6) Extra Perk for Potential Hires

If a company’s recruiters have a hard time nabbing new hires, the added bonus of an employee wellness program might provide an edge over competitors. When compensation looks relatively the same between two positions, young, health-focused recruits are more apt to go with a company that values their well-being over one that doesn’t. Remember, an employee wellness program also makes a company’s culture look more appealing.

For any employer who has been on the fence about launching an employee wellness program, there’s no time like the present to take the leap. The return on the investment will make the endeavor well worth it.

To learn more about the benefits of employee wellness programs, check out this helpful infographic created by Pennsylvania credit union PSECU.

FTC Disclosure: Xceptional HR Consulting received compensation for mentioning the product listed above as part of one of the services offer clients and readers. We only recommend products or services we believe will be good for our readership. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.