Wellness program

What is a wellness program?

A wellness program is one that’s intended to promote or improve the health or fitness of an person. It may include health screenings, fitness programs and preventative care.

Deeper definition

A wellness program is an organized and coordinated program that aims to enhance the physical, emotional and mental health of a person. Depending on the setting, a wellness program also may promote vocational and spiritual well-being.

Wellness programs are established for use by people at home, for employees of a company or for members of an organization, club or religious institution.

Wellness programs typically include activities such as weight loss competitions, exercise, stress management or resiliency education, smoking cessation programs, and wellness assessments that are designed to help individuals or employees eat better, lose weight and improve their physical health.

Wellness program example

One common example of a wellness program is the employee wellness program. This type of wellness program is implemented by an employer to help employees overcome specific health-related problems, provide them with access to quality medical care, promote a lifestyle that includes balanced diet and proper exercise, and encourage a positive mental outlook.

A functional employee wellness program helps reduce tensions in the workplace, promote camaraderie among employees and enhance productivity while minimizing absenteeism.

To make sure employees participate in the program, employers typically impose mandatory employee seminars, staff training or even hire a third-party provider with a variety of wellness programs. Employers often are willing to pay for the program, as health and wellness greatly affects productivity and profits.

Along with employee wellness programs, other types of organizations also may implement wellness programs that serve a specific group or area within the wider community.

For instance, senior centers may offer wellness programs that include many of the same activities found in an employee wellness program. Within this setting, the goal is to promote mental and physical activity among people who use the centers regularly. This may take the form of providing physical education seminars and activities that exercise or challenge reasoning and, in general, promote good health.