Workplace Wellness Programs: Stress Management
Stress continues to drive employees’ work-related health concerns, which is probably why the majority of respondents (78 percent) in a recently published survey claim they would participate in a Workplace Wellness Program to help their overall health and wellness.
In a recently published study commissioned by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN), 500 full-time employees nationwide were interviewed by phone.
“Today’s employees are clearly dealing with a lot of pressures such as the effects of 9/11, an unstable economy, national security threats and work/balance issues. There is a real opportunity for businesses to serve as an ally to their employees by providing them with resources to better manage their physical and emotional health – anything from stress management seminars to nutrition and exercise counseling,” says Deborah V. DiBenedetto, president of AAOHN.
Nearly 80 percent of respondents believe their health would improve if they were offered the right information and tools through a viable Workplace Wellness Program.
Topping the list of most interesting Workplace Wellness Programs cited by employees is stress management (85 percent), closely followed by screening initiatives (84 percent), exercise/physical fitness initiatives (84 percent), health insurance education (81 percent) and disease management seminars (80 percent).
More than half of employees (61 percent) would rather receive health and wellness information from a healthcare consultant or onsite nurse, compared to pamphlets or brochures (18 percent) or human resources staff (15 percent).
