This article by Kaila West speaks of Generation Y and how important a workplace wellness program is for them to feel valued and to value their employer back. Simply providing an income isn’t enough these days and to get maximum productivity and maximum buy in and commitment from staff they need a little extra.

Loyalty in the workplace is gone. Modern generations no longer feel committed to their employers as their parents once did. They don’t feel a sense of pride in taking one for the team if it isn’t going to immediately benefit them, and if you aren’t going to give them what they want then they are going to go somewhere else – fast. It is this egocentric mentality that makes providing worthwhile benefits not just a nice amenity anymore but a necessity. Yet this new generation of workers don’t just want to be lavished with perks, they want to feel like they are valued as individuals inside the organization, which is why wellness incentive programs are essential employer tools.

Wellness incentive programs are a form of a multifaceted benefits package provided by employers that tend to the health of the employee. They are a conglomeration of discounts, free passes, and complimentary evaluations that all focus on ensuring the individual employee is in good shape both physically and emotionally. Common components of wellness incentive programs include discounts to local sports clubs, preventative screenings in the doctor’s office, annual wellness fairs, reduced membership to weight loss programs, and the in-office distribution of stress management information through flyers and e-mails.

These programs are popular with employees and potential employees for myriad reasons. One reason is that they encourage access to many lifestyle refinements – such as health club membership, better diets, and a lowered stress level – that are considered by most of the workforce as indulgent luxuries. Similarly, and perhaps more importantly, they show employees that you want them to enjoy these finer things, which signifies to them that you truly value their contribution and believe in a reasonable work-life balance. Yet this is exactly why these programs are not only beneficial for employees, but also for employers. Wellness incentive programs are relatively cheap to maintain, yet they speak volumes to your workforce. Many companies today talk a big game about the value they place on the balance between work and the life employees have outside of work without ever following through. Work-life balance is key for the employee to hear, yet it’s not always what the employer needs. However, established wellness programs provide a concrete piece of evidence that can be pointed to that not only substantiates the claim but also makes good on it without disrupting the productivity of the workplace.

That’s not to mention the fact that happy and healthy workers are more productive workers. Studies have shown repeatedly that employees who maintain a healthy lifestyle and participate in stress-reducing activities outside of work – such as regular exercise – are able to maintain concentration for longer and enjoy higher overall energy levels. Similarly, research has also proven that workers who feel they are valued by the overall organization will yield better results that those who feel disgruntled or lost in the shuffle. Perhaps the best part of wellness incentive programs is their low cost-to-results ratio. Since the programs consist of little more than group discount rates and good PR, there is little to pay for. Many companies that work in the health sector are only too happy to be involved in the program for a nominal fee for a chance to directly advertise to such a rapt audience, meaning all you really have to do is compile the information of the various services, print it in a nice brochure, and pass it out. You can be guaranteed that the benefits you will receive in the form of higher morale and better productivity will be exponentially greater than the effort it takes to establish the program.