KBS WELLNESS PROGRAM
Businesses across the country have implemented employee wellness programs. The advantage in providing these programs is that it can provide great benefits for both the employee and the employer.
Investing money in developing a wellness program can pay back in many ways. By helping employees improve their individual health, companies can see positive changes such as lower health care expenses, improvement in employees’ performance, lower absenteeism, and fewer workers’ compensation claims. Wellness programs bring a huge improvement in worker morale and job satisfaction, which can also increase employee retention.
Wellness programs help employees develop healthy habits that not only help them at work, but have benefits that carry on far beyond the office. Every person has some health risk to a degree that can be improved upon, and making small changes can improve quality of life. Wellness programs also build camaraderie with coworkers and this social support gives not only encouragement, but motivation and accountability.
Starting a wellness program does not necessarily mean installing a fitness center, but can involve many different activities to inspire employees. KBS established its Wellness Program in 2008 and has a Wellness Committee that provides various activities and challenges for its employees:
- Team Walking Challenges
- Community Garden
- Corporate 4-miler
- Health-conscious Snacks
- On-site fitness classes
- Nutrition Counseling
- Team Building Activities
- CPR and First Aid Training
- Health Screenings
- Annual Flu-shot Competitions
- Smoking Cessation
According to long-time member of the Wellness Committee, April Shumate, “Two of our main goals for the Wellness Program are to get employees motivated, and make it fun for them to participate.” The program offers prizes and recognition for various health-related accomplishments – be it a walking challenge, for weight loss, or for participating in health screenings.
KBS believes that healthy employees are a vital part of our success!
