Corporate Wellness Matters: Insights from Business Owners on the Importance of Employee Health

Jed Morley
19 min readJan 20, 2023

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As companies look to the future, they are recognizing the importance of employee health and wellness in the workplace. In this article, we’ve compiled insights from a group of successful business owners on the importance of corporate wellness and how it can benefit both the employees and the company as a whole. These industry experts have shared their personal experiences, challenges and strategies on how to implement and maintain a corporate wellness program. From tips on how to create a positive work-life balance to strategies for promoting mental and physical health, this article has something for everyone. Whether you’re a small startup or a large corporation, these insights can help you understand the importance of corporate wellness and take steps to improve the well-being of your employees.

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Jennie Miller

Title: co-founder

Company: Midss

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniemillerofficial

Improved Health Behavior of Employees.

This program encourages employees to make healthier choices which improves their physical, mental and emotional health.

It also provides your team with the necessary skills, motivation, tools and support to change unhealthy behaviors and adopt healthy habits, resulting in lower health risks and a lower risk of chronic disease. This lowers their medical costs, which has a positive impact on their work and productivity.

Stress reduction.

Wellness programs are designed to help employees effectively manage job pressures. Excessive stress causes a variety of issues, including physical and emotional distress, absenteeism and other issues.

Workplace stress can sometimes cause elevated blood pressure and anxiety in employees. These risk factors have been linked to coronary artery disease and anxiety disorders.

Workplace wellness programs can assist employees in managing unavoidable stressors and improving employee wellness.

A positive employee-employer relationship.

Employees are more likely to remain with a company that cares about them. They are also more likely to give their all when they feel appreciated by their boss, which can boost their productivity. As a result, absenteeism is reduced and health-care costs are reduced.

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Aktug Dogan

Title: CEO/Co-Founder

Company: ReferMate

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aktugd/

Corporate Wellness programs create an important sense of well-being in the workplace, which is usually a place of high stress. Investing in the health of your employees is investing in the health of a business — it increases motivation and provides incentive that builds a sense of loyalty. Corporate wellness creates a better, healthier work culture extending both ways, and ensures that employees remain passionate and driven about the business they are part of building.

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Jessica Luna

Title: Marketing Analyst

Company: Net Influencer

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/influenceweekly/

Corporate wellness programs can have a number of benefits for the health of a business. Here are a few ways that corporate wellness can contribute to the success of a company:

Increased productivity: Employees who are healthy and feel well are more likely to be productive. Corporate wellness programs can help employees maintain their physical and mental health, which can improve their productivity on the job.

Reduced healthcare costs: Companies with corporate wellness programs often experience reduced healthcare costs due to fewer absences, fewer medical claims, and lower healthcare premiums.

Improved morale: Corporate wellness programs can help improve employee morale by demonstrating that the company values the health and well-being of its employees.

Increased retention: Employees who participate in corporate wellness programs may be more likely to stay with the company, which can help reduce turnover costs.

Positive public image: Companies that prioritize employee wellness can often improve their public image, which can be beneficial in attracting top talent and building customer loyalty.

Legal and regulatory compliance: Some companies may be required to provide certain types of wellness programs to comply with laws and regulations, such as the Affordable Care Act.

Overall, corporate wellness programs can play a significant role in the health and success of a business by promoting the well-being of employees and helping to reduce costs and improve productivity.

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Rachael Steimnitz

Title: Director, Workplace Mental Health

Company: NAMI-NYC

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-steimnitz-2a04167/

Employees, now more than ever, are expecting their employers to support their mental health, particularly for younger generations entering the workplace. The NAMI-NYC Wall Street Mental Health Collaborative, a group of financial service providers who are committed to promoting good employee mental health, recently conducted a survey and 100% of participating firms viewed increasing employee engagement as the most important outcome for employee mental health programs, even over reducing healthcare expenditures. As the tight labor market continues, employers can differentiate themselves by creating a culture that facilitates good mental health.

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Scott DePeralta

Title: CEO

Company: Scott DePeralta Consulting LLC

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdeperalta

More and more businesses are investing in corporate wellness programs to improve the health and productivity of their employees. But what exactly is a corporate wellness program? And why are they becoming so popular? Let’s take a look at how corporate wellness programs can benefit both employees and businesses.

What Are Corporate Wellness Programs?
Corporate wellness programs are designed to promote healthy lifestyle choices among employees. These programs typically include initiatives such as on-site fitness classes, nutritious meals, health screenings, stress management seminars, and smoking cessation classes. By making these services available to their employees, businesses can encourage healthier habits that lead to increased productivity and morale.

The Benefits For Businesses
It’s no surprise that businesses are investing in corporate wellness programs. Not only do these programs encourage healthier habits among employees, but they can also help reduce healthcare costs for the company. Studies have found that companies with corporate wellness programs often spend less on healthcare costs than those without them. In addition, healthier employees tend to be more productive and have fewer sick days than those who don’t participate in these types of programs. This means that businesses that invest in corporate wellness programs may see an increase in profits due to reduced healthcare costs and increased productivity.

The Benefits For Employees
Employees benefit from corporate wellness programs in a variety of ways. Not only do they gain access to healthy lifestyle choices such as nutritious meals and fitness classes, but they also have access to resources such as stress management seminars or smoking cessation classes if needed. Corporate wellness programs provide employees with the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives while still having the support of their employers. Furthermore, many companies offer incentives for participating in these types of initiatives, which encourages even more participation from employees.

In conclusion, it’s clear that corporate wellness has numerous benefits for both employers and employees alike. From reducing healthcare costs for the business to providing healthier lifestyle choices for employees — it’s easy to see why more companies are investing in these types of initiatives every year. Investing in a corporate wellness program is an investment not just in employee health but also in the overall success of the business itself!

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Max Shak

Title: Founder/CEO

Company: Survivalgearshack

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/headless?origin=SWITCH_SEARCH_VERTICAL&keywords=nerdigital&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_people%3BxpqoVuYlSKeqd1LwGfMm1Q%3D%3D

Wellness encompasses all aspects of an individual’s life, including their emotional, mental, and physical health, their happiness, their lifestyle, their relationships, and their feelings about their job, home life, and social life. Offering wellness programs to employees is an investment in the company’s future. In turn, it optimizes employee performance through job satisfaction, reduces absenteeism through poor health and sick leave, propels the company forward, and adds value to the business by enhancing its success (such as financial success).

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Will Yang

Title: Head of Growth

Company: Instrumentl

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willcyang/

Corporate wellness has the power to transform the physical and mental health of employees. While others may see it as an additional cost on top of operating expenses, benefits that support corporate wellness is ultimately beneficial for the health of a business long-term.

Here are several ways in which corporate wellness is vital for the health of a business:

It increases productivity while lowering absenteeism. Healthy employees are less likely to miss work due to illness or injury because of company wellness benefits provided for them, which improve motivation, gratefulness, and the overall productivity of a business.
It increases employee engagement. Wellness programs such as gym memberships, and a designated room for destressing can help employees engage with one another.
It reduces healthcare costs. Preventing illnesses and other chronic conditions is better than spending thousands on curing them, which cuts back losses for the company in the long run.

The health of a business’s employees is a reflection of the health of the business itself. By fostering a supportive work environment that is humane and promotes health and well-being, businesses can not only improve the lives of their employees but also the success of the company.

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Jon Morgan

Title: CEO

Company: Venture Smarter

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venture-smarter/

Mental health and wellness have recently been a popular topic of conversation, and the workplace is no exception. Many companies are beginning to prioritize the mental well-being of their employees, recognizing that a healthy and supportive work environment. This is where corporate wellness becomes all the more relevant.

Implementing a corporate wellness program is a win-win for both employees and the company. It’s a simple and cost-effective way to improve the health and well-being of the workforce, leading to a more productive and successful business.

These programs not only improve the health and well-being of employees, but they also have a direct impact on the bottom line. When employees are healthy and happy, they are more productive and less likely to take time off due to illness or stress. This leads to increased productivity and reduced costs related to absenteeism, which can have a significant impact on the financial health of the business.

In addition, corporate wellness programs show employees that the company values their well-being, which can improve morale and job satisfaction. This, in turn, can lead to a more positive work environment and reduced turnover, which can save a company both time and money.

As a CEO, it’s vital to understand that the health and well-being of your employees should be a top priority. Not only does it improve productivity and morale, but it also helps in attracting and retaining top talent. Investing in a comprehensive wellness program tailored to the unique needs of our company and staff can be a wise decision that reaps many benefits.

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Ryan Hetrick

Title: CEO

Company: Epiphany Wellness

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-hetrick-949ba939/

Corporate wellness is crucial for the health of a business.

We’re living in a world where our employees are under more pressure than ever before. They have to work longer hours, they have to be on call 24/7, and they’re expected to be available at all times. This means that stress levels are higher than ever before, which is not only bad for the individual employee but also for their productivity level and mental health.

If you want your employees to be at the top of their game, you need to take steps to ensure that they’re able to maintain a healthy lifestyle outside of work. The best way to do this is through corporate wellness programs that encourage healthy habits such as exercise, meditation, and eating well.

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Georgia McKenzie

Title: Founder

Company: Switch on Business

Linkedin: https://switchonbusiness.com/

Corporate wellness is important because it keeps employees healthy, happy, and productive.

It’s no secret that a healthy workforce is a more productive one. When employees feel good about themselves and their jobs, they’re more likely to be engaged in their work and more likely to put in the extra effort needed to get ahead. They’ll also be much less likely to call out sick or take time off for medical reasons, which is great for productivity but bad for morale.

But it’s not just about efficiency — it’s about employee well-being. A company that cares about its employees’ health isn’t going to just tout the benefits of healthier lifestyles; it will actually follow through by creating programs that help people take care of themselves outside of work hours. If a company has a wellness program that rewards healthy choices with discounts on gym memberships or free classes at local yoga studios, then it’s going out of its way to show its employees that they matter enough to be worth investing in personally as well as professionally.

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Daniel Kroytor

Title: Founder and Director

Company: TailoredPay

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielkroytor-tailoredpay

In the war to keep top talent, prioritizing employee well-being elevates employer branding while helping to keep valued team members on board. Employer brand is a significant part of talent acquisition and employee retention. And companies that care about their team see high ROI in employee engagement and productivity. In turn, these happy employees are more willing to share their job satisfaction with those in their networks. Doing so helps pique the interest of highly qualified professionals looking for a ‘Best Place to Work,’ saving effort, time, and money in the recruitment process.

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Chris Gadek

Title: VP of Growth

Company: AdQuick

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophergadek/

Many workers feel stressed over the cost of living increases. This economic weight is bearing down on their productivity as well as their relationships, sleep, and health. Such financial stressors can result in physical and mental health problems, which can cause employees to resign.

Prioritizing the high well-being of your team members helps them be more resilient during tough times. While we recently implemented an unlimited vacation policy and a $100 monthly personal improvement allowance, we also provide employees with information on financial wellness, including gaining control of debt and planning for their financial future. And why maintaining a healthy credit score is just as essential to their well-being. While money can’t buy happiness, a good credit score makes one feel in control over their money and brings about a sense of satisfaction in their life. It also gives a feeling of economic resilience, especially in uncertain times.

And this boost in confidence significantly adds to an employee’s overall well-being and will naturally increase their positivity and productivity in the workplace.

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Jessica Anvar

Title: Founder / Managing Partner

Company: Lemon Law Experts

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-anvar-stotz-6852144/

My name is Jessica Anvar, and I am the Founder and Managing Partner of the Lemon Law Experts. Health and wellness are some of our most valuable assets. Supporting these assets enable you to perform your best in important areas of your life. If you are not feeling your best, it can be difficult to find the motivation, focus, and energy needed to work at your best. One result of investing in your health that is too frequently overlooked by many business leaders is the positive change in perspective that it can give you.

Eating well, exercising, and doing other things to take care of yourself can elevate how you view yourself and the world around you, motivating you to work harder and to be more present in your everyday life. Feeling healthy results in a more optimistic mentality and approach. Embracing a positive perspective enables one to give more to their work and other parts of their everyday routine thereby reaching highest levels of performance and productivity, day after day.

If most of your employees are neglecting their health for the sake of work, it will be challenging to run a productive organization filled with employees who are active, healthy, and willing to contribute. Assist your employees in improving their quality of life and health and they should become more engaged and productive members of your organization. Excellent health can be magical in the way that it can transform the world around you for the better. Investing in the health and wellness of your team and leading your employees toward optimal health will result in higher performance thereby leading your business to improved success.

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Ivan Marusic

Title: CEO & Founder

Company: GameTaco

Linkedin: https://hr.linkedin.com/in/ivanlovremarusic

Corporate wellness programs are gaining popularity in the business world as more and more companies realize the importance of employee health and well-being. A corporate wellness program is an investment in the health of your employees and the productivity of your company.

There are many benefits to implementing a corporate wellness program, including reducing health care costs, improving employee productivity, and reducing absenteeism. Employees who participate in corporate wellness programs have been shown to have lower rates of health problems, including obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

A corporate wellness program can also help to improve morale and job satisfaction among employees. When employees feel supported by their employer in their efforts to live a healthier lifestyle, they are more likely to be engaged and satisfied with their job.

If you are considering implementing a corporate wellness program at your company, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it is important to consult with your employees to find out what type of program would be most beneficial for them.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to corporate wellness — what works for one company may not work for another.Second, remember that a corporate wellness program is an investment in your employees and your company’s future. It may take some time and effort to get the program up and running, but the long-term benefits will be worth it.

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Dr. Simon Karmarmar

Title: CEO and Founder

Company: MasRefund

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/karmarkars

Wellness is Emotionally Inclusive. As we experienced last year, too many organizations failed to see the inability to meet employees’ emotional needs, which led to “quiet quitting.” Leaders who spend time reflecting on “what is happening in the now” will get insight into how things “could be” as opposed to fighting the tyranny of “should be.”

Wellness starts with leadership that can look beyond the hard data points to build an environment that’s emotionally inclusive. Wellness is about checking in with human thoughts and feelings around the direction of a project or department. Are the emotional needs being met?

The key to a healthy organization is the wellness of the parts of that organization. Taking a human-centric approach is essential. It’s about meeting the needs of the humans that keep the wheels turning. Organizationally, there are goals and milestones from a financial standpoint that a company needs to meet to support the infrastructure.

Beyond offering healthcare, it’s critical for leadership to model a healthy lifestyle, both mentally and physically.
Good Ole Ben Franklin said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When I launched a substance abuse rehabilitation program, the organization illustrated what a healthy work environment looks like. We knew that a big component of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is exercise, so we offered gym membership to employees and clients. Not only did we talk the talk, staff and clients could see Leadership working out at the gym on a regular basis. A Rehab offers support for physical and mental health that leadership should implement in the corporate setting. Small investments in daily guided meditation, a walk or martial arts, like Tai Chi, bring an ROI in retention, productivity, lowered absenteeism and the positively affect the bottom line.

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Kellie Middleton

Title: MD, Owner & CEO

Company: Kellie K. Middleton

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-middleton-b16b7b6

Corporate wellness is of utmost importance to support a business’s health. It involves providing opportunities for employees to focus on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being in order to enhance morale, productivity, and performance.

Employers should provide incentives that promote healthy behaviors, such as offering gym memberships or onsite fitness classes. They can also make sure that employees are getting the proper nutrition by providing healthy snacks, fruits or veggies in the workplace. The company can also arrange for regular health screenings and vaccinations for their employees to detect any health issues early on, which will reduce sick leave and long-term healthcare costs.

Corporate wellness is an investment in their people. It not only keeps employees healthy and productive, but it also boosts morale and encourages loyalty. Employees who feel valued by their employers are more likely to stay longer, making the company a better place to work. Corporate wellness helps reduce absenteeism, turnover rate, and healthcare costs while increasing productivity and profitability.

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Dr. Jasmine Reed

Title: CEO and Founder

Company: Ubuntu Psychological Services

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjasminereed

Corporate wellness programs are important because they teach and create healthy habits within employees. This can be influential in a variety of different ways, one being able to identify preventable or chronic diseases. It also assists employees in identifying ways that they can become better at their own wellness. It also creates a layer of trust between the employer and employee as these programs actively put employees at the forefront to address their overall well-being, which ultimately assists in job satisfaction and retention. It also benefits the employee and employer by lowering employee’s health risks which could reduce the amount of time needed to attend doctor appointments, sick days, and general burnout which would reduce overall health costs. It would also increase employee productivity because they are not constantly overwhelmed with mental or physical health issues or concerns. Furthermore, this directly and positively impacts workplace morale as new employees would be eager to join a company that values the importance of the overall wellness of its employees.

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David Lesser

Title: CEO and Founder

Company: Numina

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhlesser/

Corporate wellness doesn’t always have to be on a physical level. Corporate emotional health is at least as important as physical health in a corporate wellness program. As an Executive Coach my experience is in leading leaders to a healthier corporate culture. I share guidance, ideas and tips on how to accomplish team and leadership wellness in a business setting. I’ve also created the Numina At-Home Retreat that individuals (leaders and team contributors) can complete to experience deep reflection and vision to fuel the next chapter of their life, as well as understand what drives them, recognize what holds them back and commit to next steps. All this, as you can imagine will progress an individual forward.

So what can leaders do to implement a healthy corporate culture by focusing on the emotional health of an individual or a team? Simply put –they can instill confidence in their people by acknowledging the qualities of characters in them by these two simple practices:

Sunday practice:
Think of 5 key people on your team or at work, perhaps you don’t work closely but still at the same company. By taking this small step you can impact their emotional wellness. Find 20 minutes and make notes about the qualities of character you see in those 5 people. Throughout the week look for opportunities to appreciate them, call out those qualities of character whenever that person expresses them. Target the quality of that person, not just the performance. Make them feel like they are seen, help them feel great about themselves, share things you see as true qualities of their character. Doing this rather than giving them kudos on a presentation, an insightful question asked or simply work accolades allows them to feel their full potential and value, in turn feeling better about themselves, and the business they work at. Overall it’s a healthy upturn in morale.

Friday practice:
Think about how well you did as a leader? Did your words instill confidence in the people around you? Did it improve the emotional wellness of the company? Reflecting on these important questions will help you see if this practice is working or if you can push yourself to do more.

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Brianna Regine Walston

Title: Founder & CEO

Company: Brianna Regine Visionary Consulting LLC (BRVC)

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannareginewalston/

Corporate wellness is absolutely vital for the health of a business. The impact of the Covid pandemic is textbook proof of this, starting with the Great Resignation. Since 2020, the workforce has come to terms with what they deem a valuable work experience and workers left in droves when their organization wasn’t making the cut.

For years, the workforce has requested more flexibility in their hours so they could cope with their physical and mental health, or childcare needs, or personal projects… And it took a pandemic for this request to get loud enough so we could not ignore it. The social injustice inflicted upon George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others were also a wake-up call for many. Workplace wellness is a way to provide emotional support to people and to make change happen, with DEI programs to begin with.

All together, corporate wellness programs give organizations the opportunity to show employees they are seen, heard, understood, and that they belong. If you empower employees to have a sense of autonomy over their life, they will be more motivated, creative and productive.

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