BENEFITS OF WELLNESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

India, presently the most populous and the largest democratic country of the world, does have a huge population of unemployed youths – uneducated, inadequately educated and adequately educated; un-skilled, semi-skilled and skilled. This has been a major concern in the socio-economic development of the country for a couple of years. Against this backdrop, those who are employed either in government service or in the fast expanding private and corporate sectors can be termed as lucky ones. But this is the brighter side of the story. Ironically, their work-life-balance has been in jeopardy, notwithstanding the pay and perks they receive.

To put it in plain words, for more than anything else, it has been a growing concern for quite some time among the working youths in corporate entities in India (and also in many other countries) that the working environment is becoming more and more taxing and stressful which naturally results in growing health problems including depression, hypertension, diabetes etc. It is needless to reiterate that this has also directly-indirectly been impacting the health and wellbeing of their family and the society at large.

It is notable here to find what Dr. Dean Michael Ornish, renowned Physician & Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California has to convey, “Think about it: Heart disease and diabetes, which account for more deaths in the U.S. and worldwide than everything else combined, are completely preventable by making comprehensive lifestyle changes, without drugs or surgery."

The progressive and employee-friendly companies / organisations do feel and appreciate this vital health issue and hence embark on Wellness Management Programs as a major HR activity on a regular basis for all its employees to help and facilitate them strike a balance between the job requirements and health issues. This does include addressing issues related to serious lifestyle aberrations mostly due to lack of awareness and mindfulness.

That's why Rob Wittman stresses the point in this way: "Individuals will achieve healthier lifestyles when prevention and wellness programs are accessible and available in their workplace, through their health provider, and in their communities."

The good corporations all over the world that treat their human resources as the most vital resource for sustaining quality growth of the company's business and revenue year after year do discover to their satisfaction that by engaging the employees in wellness management activities periodically, the company is able to reduce the overall medical expenses besides keeping the motivation level and degree of loyalty of the employees quite high.

Not only this, the surveys and studies have also shown conclusively that wellness management initiatives result in creating a healthy working environment as feelings of camaraderie, togetherness, and empathy have been found to be profound among the work force in such companies. Undeniably, all this has also been translated into perceptible improvement in both top line and bottom line growth of the company.

Finally, I wish to share with you this excellent quote of Gautam Buddha: “The secret of health for both mind and body is neither to mourn for the past nor to worry about the future, but to practice living in the present wisely and mindfully.”

As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post comments to share your views and experiences.

(hellomilansinha@gmail.com)

                             

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