Needs Assessment

Meghan Powell

Needs Assessment

Organizations everywhere have shown an increased interest in wellness programs that encourage and support employees in improving their health. These programs have routinely shown that employers who utilize wellness programs have decreased absenteeism, reduced health care expenses and increased productivity among employees. With the increasing amount of time individuals are spending at work, it is imperative employees are offered wellness programs within the workplace.

It is recognized that poor health leads to higher absenteeism and lower job satisfaction. By implementing wellness programs, employees will be empowered to improve their health and greatly increase work performance. Programs are needed to help reduce absenteeism due to the decrease in sickness related absences from healthy employees. The findings of a recent study show that, “Providing a work site wellness program engenders a positive attitude, making employees happier with the organization and therefore more satisfied with their jobs”(Parks, 2008, p. 60). Employees who are provided with wellness programs are more likely to take positive action related to their health.

Organizations that lack wellness programs have employees who are higher at risk for disease and illnesses. It is known, “The top five health conditions (diseases of the heart, cancers, cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, and unintentional injuries) are responsive to wellness programs. Several of the diseases associated with these conditions are strongly affected by four modifiable behavioral factors addressed within worksite wellness programs”(Soler, 2010). These factors include tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol use, which are modified within wellness programs. Working toward wellness is needed to successfully help employees avoid these diseases and illnesses by working to modify these negative health risk behaviors.

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