About 2.7 million nonlethal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in 2020, which is quite a staggering number given how many workdays were lost that year on account of the pandemic-induced lockdowns. Back in 2019, 5333 workplace related deaths were reported, which is significant because these numbers are from a time before covid. When the BLS releases its report for 2021, we will get a clearer picture of how or if things have changed more recently.
Nevertheless, if we dig deeper into the available stats both during and before the pandemic, it seems that a lack of alertness, fitness, and physical/mental wellbeing among employees has remained a constant factor. While a healthcare benefits program cannot prevent tragic accidents and deaths in every situation, incentivizing wellness can certainly reduce the total number quite significantly. Read on to get a better understanding of how they are related first.
Incentivizing Safety for Better Employee Compliance
One may argue that self-preservation itself should be reason enough for employees to remain safety compliant, but that is unfortunately not how things work in real life scenarios. Strict supervision and punitive measures for noncompliance are necessary to make sure every worker in a potentially dangerous scenario is adhering to all safety protocols. However, stats confirm the fact that employees are much more likely to be compliant to safety regulations if they are incentivized. Rewards work better than punishment, which helps in creating a safer work environment for everyone at the site.
Fit and Alert Workers are Motivational to Others Around Them
Alert, fit, and active employees have a considerably lower chance of getting injured/sick on the job due to work-related hazards. They are also less likely to take sick days or use their company-provided medical insurance too often. This not only improves their productivity and reduces the overall cost of premium on employee insurance, but it also encourages other employees to take the same route.
On noting that some of their colleagues are leading better lives by making positive, healthy decisions, this should in itself be motivational. However, if the same colleagues are also getting rewarded for it and improving their workplace positions through making positive choices, that usually has a much more powerful reinforcing effect.
Simplifying Healthcare Benefits and Reward Programs
Simplification is a critical factor for any successful healthcare benefit and reward program. Ease of use improves accessibility, which in turn, encourages members to be more interested in maximizing the reward potentials of that plan. Consequently, this increases the perceived and practical value of the plan. For example, this healthcare benefits card unifies all aspects of healthcare benefits and rewards in one extremely portable package. A single healthcare benefits card streamlines everything from healthy grocery/meal shopping rewards to dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
Immediate self-preservation is an instinct but staying fit and healthy to avoid future problems in today’s modern world can be difficult. Through incentivizing wellness programs though, businesses can turn fitness and wellness into a worthwhile pursuit again. Given that the results are mutually beneficial, the investments necessary to implement such plans are more than worth it.