Want to lower your workers comp and disability claims by 32%? - Keep reading!

A recent study of successful employee wellness programs indicated that on average, sick leave taken by employees decreased by 27%, health care costs were down by 26%, and there was a 32% reduction in workers’ compensation and disability claims.

Wow, right? If you’re surprised like me, you’re probably thinking ‘why isn’t everyone doing this’?

For some businesses, the reason is money, for others, it’s time. Yet for the majority of organizations, it’s simply an oversight.

The reality is, there are endless options available to companies who are strapped for time or don’t have the same budget as Microsoft.

Here are four companies, ranging from the very small to the absolutely massive, who have developed tailored employee wellness programs that work for their people!

Google

• Yes – this tech giant has sleeping pods, ergonomic advisors, and an in-house barbershop. Even so, Google’s Senior VP of People Operations Laszlo Bock has stressed that while the aforementioned perks make headlines, it’s false to believe that successful HR practices must involve ‘bean-bag chairs and lava lamps’.
• More importantly, the company created its own ‘People & Innovation Lab’ (PiLab) to conduct experiments to determine the most effective approaches for managing their people and maintaining productivity (including the type of rewards that make employees happiest). The PiLab even bettered employee health by reducing the calorie intake of employees by relying on scientific data and experiments (they just reduced the size of the plates!)
  

Motley Fool

• This online financial services company has “collaboration” as one of its key values. The company pulls different “fools” from various departments that don’t normally work together and organizes a fitness activity once a month.
• Employees aka ‘fools’ are given a quarterly budget of ‘fools gold’ (translated to real dollars) to gift to their coworkers – Fools then redeem their gold for prizes and experiences!
  

Earth Friendly Products

• As you’d probably imagine, a company with the word Earth in its name has some healthy initiatives for its employees.
• Each office has its own organic garden where employees can grab fruits and veggies at their convenience.
• The company also organizes RE-Parties, where employees can swap clothing and household items!
  

Zappos

• Wellness Coordinator Kelly Maher is adamant that wellness consists of a lot more than just the physical aspect, and highlights that programs should never be forced upon employees.
• At Zappos, one of their newer initiatives is called “Wellness Adventures”, where Maher takes a small group of employees from different departments offsite to do something fun like a golf lesson or laser tag.
• To kick off March Madness, the company even organized a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

As you can see, not every wellness initiative requires a boatload of money or months of planning – you really don’t need ping pong tables to make your people happy!

Studies consistently demonstrate that low employee engagement increases turnover, and unique and fun wellness programs are a great solution to counteract this!

Need help tweaking your existing initiatives? Looking for a tailored wellness program that will work for your organization? Investing in your employees has proven ROI so contact an HR expert from TPD today – We’ll come up with something that suits you!