The Importance of Workplace Wellness
By Megan Martin
America’s obesity problem is no secret--approximately one-third of Americans are obese--but a recent report by Rand Corporation has revealed some surprising new findings: Obesity causes more health risks than heavy smoking, drinking and even poverty.
The study found that obese people suffer from a 67 percent increase in “chronic” conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, compared to just a 25 percent increase among smokers and a 12 percent increase among heavy drinkers. While it’s easy to blame fast food chains or poor exercise habits for the trend, the study notes another major contributor that is usually overlooked: desk jobs.
Employers have recently begun to understand the cost that obesity can have--both in terms of skyrocketing healthcare costs and decreased employee productivity due to sick days and doctor visits.
In response, there has been a boom in workplace wellness programs, which focus on physical fitness, nutrition, stress management, and other health issues. These types of programs not only save money for companies, but increase employee productivity and even reduce turnover rates.
SALO: A Case Study
Amy Langer and John Folkestad, co-founders of SALO, have recently witnessed the benefits of wellness first-hand. In 2005, Langer was flipping through an issue of Eating Well magazine when she came across an article about the work of Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and mastermind of the Walkstation (basically a treadmill with a computer desk attached, designed for use in the office).
“My immediate thought was: This is something we have to do,” says Langer. Folkestad agreed, and the organization partnered with Levine and installed numerous Walkstations in their office to become part of Levine’s treadmill/desk study.
The results? “Employees love them,” says Langer. In fact, employees responded with such enthusiasm that today their office houses sixteen Walkstations. The six-month study revealed many surprising benefits of incorporating physical activity into the workday.
“The effectiveness of weight loss was the most amazing thing,” says Folkestad. “People generally subscribe to intense, temporary systems of weight loss, then are unable to commit to them in the long-run. With the Walkstations, several people on our staff, myself included, lost up to 25 pounds without using any kind of special diet.”
Weight loss wasn’t the only benefit. Folkestad immediately noticed an increase in creativity while using the Walkstations, as well as the disappearance of the “after-lunch food coma.” Langer, already an avid runner, noticed results immediately--in herself and her employees.
“One of the biggest changes was the energy that you feel throughout the day, and not feeling drained. There were times when I was in meetings all morning and after three or four hours I was not energized at all. Now I have more energy during the day, and also when I get home,” she says.
Today, some meetings at SALO are conducted in two conference rooms that house four Walkstations. “It’s much less stuffy than sitting around a conference table,” says Langer. “While you might jot down a couple of items at a typical meeting, really you’re there to communicate with people. I’ve found that people are more engaged when they’re moving. The conversation just flows. Even problem resolution seems to happen more easily.”
With the arrival of the Walkstations, things around SALO have begun to change. While SALO has long been a progressive company--housing pool and foosball tables in their office to give employees a break--wellness has now gained new attention.
“I would say now we have a wellness mentality but before that wasn’t the case,” says Folkestad. “What was getting us into trouble was a collective consciousness--ice cream runs and people bringing in chocolate to share.”
Now he feels he is beginning to find a balance. While there are still treats in the office, there is also an abundance of fruit. “If you only have bagels or pastries at a meeting, people are going to eat them. But if you put out fruit alongside that, the urge to eat whatever is in front of you is diminished.”
The organization is also considering enhancement of their wellness program and how new aspects will be rolled out to all associates. “It’s really as simple as making small changes,” Folkestad says.
The Bigger Picture
Wellness initiatives aren’t just “feel-good” benefits--they help drive productivity as well. Employees are more likely to be happy, motivated and remain at a company if they feel their employer is genuinely interested in their well-being.
A recent study by the National Business Group on Health and Watson Wyatt Worldwide, "2007/2008 Staying@Work," found employers with the most effective health and productivity management programs achieved 20 percent more revenue per employee, 16.1 percent higher market value and 57 percent greater shareholder returns.
Folkestad, who calls the Walkstations “the genesis of our wellness initiative,” sees his and Langer’s commitment to wellness as an important way to show that they care about employees and believe it’s important for other employers to do the same.
In Folkestad’s opinion, many companies need to devote more attention to employees’ needs and well-being. “As companies continue to recognize that talent, not their service offering, is what drives them, things that build and enforce teams are what companies focus on to keep and attract talent,” says Folkestad. “This experiment we’re going through helps bind us because it is something we’re doing together that has been really fun. That is a huge benefit to companies.” And to employees as well.
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