What is Corporate Wellness?

Goal 3 of the United Nation’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development aims to increase the health and well-being of citizens around the world. A corporate wellness program is a fantastic way to commit to this goal.

A corporate wellness program is any kind of workplace scheme or practice which aims to increase the physical and mental health and well-being of employees. These programs can be included as part of a company’s overall sustainability program as it is working towards economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Globally, corporate wellness programs are a $40 billion dollar industry with only 9% of global workers having access to such a program in their workplace. From 2016 to 2021, the industry is expected to grow approximately 7.8% in the United States alone.

In the US, $2.2 trillion is lost each year due to issues around corporate unwellness. This is approximately 12% of GDP. Corporate unwellness can be broken down into the following:

• $1.1 trillion lost due to chronic disease
• $250 billion lost due to workplace-related illnesses and injuries
• $300 billion lost due to workplace-related stress
• $550 billion lost due to disengagement at work

Fortunately, the return on investment when it comes to corporate wellness programs is quite high. According to a study conducted by the University of Louisville, for every dollar invested into workplace wellness, companies see $7 in savings.

Corporate wellness can include programs such as the following:

• Workplace health and safety program
• Staff cycling facilities
• Lunchtime exercise group
• Staff nutrition program
• Staff mental health program

For more information about how you can incorporate corporate wellness into your organisation or to get started on a corporate wellness program as part of your sustainability program, contact us today!

This article was originally published on the Strategic Sustainability Consultants website.