Employee Wellness: A Top Priority Today

Health is essential no matter where you are. With many individuals spending the majority of their day at a desk or within an office, workplace wellness programs have become crucial for maintaining employee health. About two years ago, Family Pharmacy evaluated employee health and found it lacking for an organization focused on health and healthcare. There was a noticeable rise in employee injuries and illnesses, along with increased healthcare costs and absenteeism. Recognizing the need for change, the leadership team initiated the Employee Wellness Program.

The Employee Wellness Program is designed to ensure the health and well-being of every employee. Family Pharmacy believes in the importance of providing opportunities for employees to maintain both physical and mental health. The program includes various activities such as health education, medical screenings, and weight management.

Family Pharmacy adopted the Sonic Boom Wellness program, which is engaging, interactive, and social-media based. This program has been a significant factor in the success of the wellness initiative. Sonic Boom offers valuable insights into modifying daily health behaviors, focusing on physical activity, weight management, nutrition, and stress reduction. Employees can track their daily steps and earn rewards like exercise bags, water bottles, and phone accessories for achieving over 5,000 steps a day. This friendly competition has been highly motivating, with many employees supporting each other in their health goals.

The program also provides employees with access to biometric screenings, offering essential information on current and potential medical issues. These screenings help employees understand their risk for chronic, preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Based on their results, employees can receive one-on-one coaching to develop personalized health improvement strategies, with costs covered by Happy Family Pharmacy.

Education is a cornerstone of the wellness program. Quarterly gatherings focus on preventing workplace injuries and illnesses. Regular “Lunch and Learns” feature experts discussing a variety of health topics. For example, during the holidays, an expert provided tips on making healthy food and lifestyle choices to navigate the festive season. Additionally, the program has successfully addressed specific issues like needle pricks among healthcare workers by switching to retractable needles and enhancing training, significantly reducing incidents.

Behavior change takes time and varies among individuals. Happy Family Store is committed to long-term employee health and wellness. The program is continually reinforced with diverse initiatives and touchpoints. From a business perspective, the goals include reducing healthcare costs and absenteeism. However, the primary objective is to improve the health and happiness of employees and their families, fostering a healthier and more vibrant community.