According to Jeffrey Hayzlett, prime time TV and radio host, author and speaker; globally, workplace wellness is a $40 billion industry.  A 2017 survey conducted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found that more than 90% of corporate organisations offer at least one wellness initiative. That would suggest that wellness programmes are more than a perk. They have become a routine offering.

Wellness programmes provide numerous benefits to employers. One of the major benefits is increased productivity. When employees aren’t at their best, physically and mentally, productivity is affected. Poor employee productivity refers to a scenario where someone is physically present at work, but “not there” mentally. The cause can be multiple factors: lack of sleep, headaches, physical discomfort, or mental health problems.

According to Hayzlett, lack and loss of productivity due to health reasons can also lead to absenteeism. According to a CDC study (https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2016/15_0503.htm), absenteeism costs small employers between $16 and $81 per employee annually, and large employers between $17 and $286.  The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans survey also found that among employers offering and measuring wellness efforts, more than half saw a decrease in absenteeism, while 66 percent reported increased productivity and 67 percent said employees are more satisfied. Basically, healthy employees are productive employees.