Workplace Nutrition (Lauren Schumacher)

When it comes to achieving wellness in the workplace, overall diet and nutrition is a large contributor in reaching an organization’s corporate wellness goals. Diet and nutrition is part of physical wellness, and many organizations have started to implement solutions to fight obesity and bad nutrition habits, leading to healthier and more productive employees. Healthier employees also save the company money in healthcare costs due to less diet-related conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes (PRNewswire, 2004). Research has shown that what we eat has a huge impact on how well we work, and many organizations are diving in and taking the steps towards a healthier workplace.

There are many different ways that better nutrition in the workplace can be implemented. Organizations are always coming up with new programs and ideas to help employees take the necessary steps towards becoming healthier. One company, called Kaiser Permanente, has launched a new nutrition program called Mix It Up. This program emphasizes a varied selection of colorful produce and introduces participants to healthy eating patterns that anyone can readily and easily adopt. There’s no calorie counting or fat-gram measuring involved. With this program, employers are uniquely positioned to support employees in making healthy changes (PRNewswire, 2012). According to PRNewswire, “Employees spend about 2,000 hours a year at work, so businesses are in a good position to promote prevention, influence employee decision-making and support their workforce in living healthier lives” (PRNewswire, 2012). With this program, employees can sign up online with the goal of eating at least five servings of produce each day. There are more than 120 possible fruits and vegetables choices and participants click on images of the foods they’ve eaten, drag them to a virtual blender and process their choices. Mix It Up totals the numbers of fruits and vegetables consumed and tracks their progress over time (PRNewswire, 2012). This low-cost online program also offers nutritional tips as well as the choice to compete against other employees. This program is great because it promotes a healthy lifestyle, but also shows that being healthy can be fun and rewarding. This program also does an excellent job with engaging employees and also making them commit to better overall nutrition.

Well Street is another company that launched a new workplace nutrition program called, “Healthy Nutrition Program.” This program focuses exclusively on building good eating habits. Naturopathic doctors and nutritionists developed this 3-week program where employees meet in a small group with a health professional on a weekly basis where they learn nutritional concepts and how to put said concepts into practice. Employees also get to discuss their experiences and get feedback from a health professional as well as their peers (Online PR News, 2013). Having people to talk to helps instill commitment for the program and allows for employees to stay strong on their journey towards wellness.

Another option that organizations are turning to is putting vending machines up throughout the workplace that are filled with healthy snacks and drinks. Having healthy options readily available for employees makes it so much easier for individuals to make healthy choices. According to an article, “The Healthyroads Healthy Vending Machine Program plays a vital role in helping employers meet their corporate wellness goals by providing employees with workplace access to a variety of healthy, low-fat snacks and drinks” (American specialty health, 2005). Healthyroads is a company that employers can purchase vending machines from and then the employers choose which items they would like to stock it with. The simplicity of this concept is very appealing and makes for an extremely easy way to help organizations fulfill their wellness goals. This concept also makes it difficult for employees to come up with excuses as to why they can’t make healthier decisions because they have vending machines right in front of them full of nutritious options. George DeVries, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of American Specialty Health, partook in swapping out their company’s vending machine contents for healthier options. He stated that, “As we've seen in our own offices, offering healthy food and drink options is an investment in the health and well-being of our employees and has led to healthier lifestyles and higher employee satisfaction” (American specialty health, 2005). Higher employee satisfaction and productivity levels are just a couple of benefits that are possible with implementing better nutrition habits. Another benefit is lowered healthcare costs for an organization.

When a company sees possible ways to lower healthcare costs, they will generally look into it. In this case, by engaging in nutrition wellness programs, companies are killing two birds with one stone. They are increasing employee satisfaction and productivity and lowering healthcare costs all in one movement. In a recent article, an example of improving workplace nutrition and exercise can be seen,

“Companies can save millions by encouraging their sedentary, obese employees to exercise a little, says 2004 research by the University of Michigan, even if it’s just a couple of times a week and they don’t lose any weight. Researchers studied 25,000 General Motors employees, 30% of whom were average weight, 45% were overweight and 25% were obese. For the obese, health care costs averaged $3,000 a year; for the overweight that number was $2,400, and for the normal weight group, $2,000. For those workers who did not exercise, health care costs went up by at least $100 a year. But for the group that added two or more days of light exercise to their schedule, costs went down by an average $500 per employee per year. The exercise lasted for 20 minutes and while it was considered “light,” it was hard enough to increase heart rate and breathing. The conclusion: “Physical activity could offset at least some of the adverse effects of excess body fat, and thus help moderate the escalating health care costs.” If the company’s entire workforce had taken part in the exercise the potential savings could have reached $7.1 million annually. Just getting the most sedentary obese workers off their chairs twice a week would have saved GM about $790,000 in a year” (Cutting health care, 2011).

This just goes to show that better nutrition and a little bit of exercise can go a long way; and because these wellness programs benefit both the employer and employees, everyone involved comes out ahead.

These are only a few ways that show just how beneficial workplace nutrition programs can be for everyone. Eating healthy and exercising is not an easy task, but when all the resources are provided, committing to a healthy lifestyle is becoming easier than ever. Change is uncomfortable, but knowing that you have the support of your workforce behind you encouraging you along the way makes a healthier lifestyle seem a lot more achievable. 

American specialty health; vending machine program offers healthy snacks and drinks. (2005, August 24).Fitness & Wellness Business Week, Retrieved from          http://search.proquest.com.huaryu.kl.oakland.edu/abicomplete/docview/2  14057685/13D12EAFC782135506F/3?accountid=12924

 Cutting health care costs. (2011). Retrieved from              http://www.wfcresources.com/articles/cutting-health-care-costs/

Employers have new tool to help improve workplace productivity. (2004, May 07). PR Newswire, Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com.huaryu.kl.oakland.edu/abicomplete/docview/446793301/13D0EB493D0612BCFA8/9?accountid=12924

Kaiser permanente launches mix it up online nutrition program to improve better eating in the workplace: Program offers employees a fun way to track fruit and vegetable intake. (2012, May 09). PR Newswire, Retrieved from             http://search.proquest.com.huaryu.kl.oakland.edu/abicomplete/docview/1011584424/13D0E88E0F928B37EE/2?accountid=12924

Well street launches new workplace nutrition program. (2013, March 25). Retrieved from     http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/363075-1364170914-well-street-launches-new-workplace-nutrition-program.html

Financial Wellness (Lauryn Morrison)

Financial Wellness in the Workplace

                  Being financially stable is important, not only financially stable yourself but stable within a company. It is also very important for a company to stay financially fit. You want to work for a reliable company that keeps track of spending and expenditures so that you get a sense of security when you’re working there. A company that cares about their finances is a trustworthy company and also profitable. What appeals to many employers is a company’s worth and how successful a company brings in revenue. You want nothing more than to work for a company that has a future and growth potential while also staying financially stable in the economy. The most important aspect, I believe, in being financial well is knowing that your company is tracking their spending and spending money based on more “need” than “want” attitudes.

                  “Financial wellness” means that you have a healthy financial lifestyle. This includes keeping track of spending and keeping your checking and savings with an adequate amount of money. This also means keeping on track with paying outstanding bills and such. Sohyun Joo wrote in Handbook of Consumer Finance Research (2008) that financial well-being also consists of a mixture between income and assets as well as professional guidance. Financial wellness is not to be confused with personal financial wellness. This work is not intended to differentiate the two but to discuss how the two go hand-in-hand in the workplace.  Personal financial wellness “is a comprehensive, multidimensional concept incorporating financial satisfaction, objective status of financial situation, financial attitudes, and behavior that cannot be assessed through one measure,” (Joo, 1998). Joo also explains that financial satisfaction doesn’t always mean that your debt free and bringing in a large income. This satisfaction just means that they have healthy attitudes and a considerable amount of desire to keep spending habits to a minimum.

Being financially stressed at home could ultimately influence your daily workplace obligations. Nothing is more stressing than having to worry about your personal money issues at home. According to the article The Potential Effects of Workplace Financial Education Based on the Relationship between Personal Financial Wellness and Worker Job Productivity written by So-hyun Joo and E. Thomas Garman,  business are starting to introduce workplace financial education, which is a type of employee assistance program. The goal at large is to increase worker productivity. Researchers know that if you’re not focused at work, then you’re not succeeding at your job.  The article also discusses the main reason for person financial debt is that many individuals are not taking the time to educate themselves about how to be financially managed. This includes reading up on financial literacy about facts that could help get you out of a ditch your spending has put you into. According to Garman, the main cause of financial trouble is, “…overuse of credit, overspending, lack of budgeting, too many debts, inadequate shopping and spending skills, low salary or wages, and lack of knowledge about money,” (Joo, Garman 1998). Company’s taking interest in programs to help their employees stay on track at home with their financial obligations look to seek ways in educating their employees about, …”retirement planning, benefit education, money management, credit management, college planning, investments, estate planning, insurance, major purchases (vehicle or house), and tax planning,” (Joo, Garman 1998). Overall, if company’s put forth the effort to show their employees that they care about their financial wellbeing it will also reflect positively on the business. Keeping your financial stressors at home when you come to work is beneficial to your work productivity and with the help of these workplace education programs, more people can feel good about coming to work with an open mind.

                  A company’s financial stability is crucial to the economy.  For a company to succeed it needs to be on track and in control of their financial wellness. A company who focuses on getting their employees financially reliable at home is good way to start getting the company in good finances. When a CEO recognizes the value that personal finances it reflects positive gear to good employment. According to the article Workplace Financial Education Improves Personal Financial Wellness workplace financial education is a growing benefit in the world of business. “Responsibility for providing personal financial education and services to prevent and alleviate money woes is increasingly falling on employers because they have access to resources that can make such programs a valuable benefit,” (Overby, 1998, p.1). If the stresses of employee money problems fall on the employers, who is to say that the company’s obligations to their own won’t fall? Then who is to blame? After employees participate in such programs, they feel a sense of accomplishment and have a better more positive attitude towards their personal finances. The benefits of these programs are not only beneficial to the employees, but also to the employers. Avid workers who are financially stable and in control of their financial management are more likely to be well respected in the workplace and most trusting with their businesses financial obligations.

References:

Garman, E. T., Kim, J., Kratzer, C. Y., Brunson, B. H., & Joo, S. H. (1999). Workplace financial education

improves personal financial wellness. Financial Counseling and Planning, 10(1), 79-88.

Joo, S. (1998). Personal financial wellness and worker job productivity. Unpublished doctoral

dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA.

Joo, S. H., & Garman, E. T. (1998). The potential effects of workplace financial education based on the

relationship between personal financial wellness and worker job productivity. Personal Finances

and Worker Productivity, 2(1), 163-174.

Overby, S. (1998, December 18). Employees’ money woes affect the company bottom line HRToday, pp.

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