Contrary to popular belief, not all employers are heartless slave drivers. They do not meticulously plan out methods to drive employees insane. Nor do they set up covert operations in the staff parking lot just to see if anyone is trading secrets or having an inter-office liaison. In fact, there are very few who consider their workforce anything less than indispensable. Employers like happy, healthy, well-adjusted, mentally stable people working for them. And let’s face it, employees like having bosses who are just as happy, healthy and mentally stable.
By offering health care insurance policies, employers are attempting to encourage the good health of their workforce. Presumably the logic is workers with health insurance will spend less time being ill, more time being healthy, have the ability to maintain their health and overall just be a lot more stable. Taking that theory further, it would behoove employers to take steps towards long term health improvement in their workforce. By encouraging healthy choices like regular exercise and nutritious eating habits, the employer is setting an example. Obviously there is a fine line between keeping the workforce healthy so they can do good work, and keeping the workforce happy so that want to do good work. However it is up to both groups (employers and workers) to fully participate in a positive lifestyle.
The work-life balance is becoming a principal concern for both employers and workers. Recent changes in insurance policies have begun to include preventative health screening. The idea is to educate and support the workforce, especially in an age where many workers spend a good portion of their day sitting in one place. The labor force still bears the bulk of the stress in the workplace. According to Steven Sauter, chief of the Applied Psychology and Ergonomics Branch of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “the workplace has become the single greatest source of stress”.
That is a fairly hefty statement by Mr. Sauter, and likely quite disputable in various regions. On the other hand, we know stress kills. It can manifest itself in a multitude of ways, both physiologically and psychologically. Some people become depressed and eat more, causing weight gain. Others smoke more, leading to serious diseases and respiratory problems. Many people experience heart disease caused by stress, a diminished immune system, headaches, muscle stiffness, alcohol or drug abuse, and many other negative consequences of anxiety.
So what, specifically, should workers and employers be doing? We have already discussed the rise in health insurance policies being provided to employees and their families. Some include preventative screening for possible long term health issues. This is the point at which the employee needs to take some control of their health. For example, if a routine checkup shows the possibility of serious illness due to years of smoking, then it is up to the employee to quit smoking. It’s easier said than done, of course.
The same theory applies to the worker who appears outwardly healthy but does not have a regular exercise regimen. Even if their tasks do include some sort of movement combined with sitting for extended periods, it is the job of the worker to eventually seek a way to incorporate healthy exercise into their daily routine. The changes could mean something as simple as going for a 30 minute walk during a meal break, or spending some time on the bicycle each evening. The point is to work towards an overall better life for the worker and their family.
Addressing leading health concerns is not just for the employer to do, employees also have a voice that needs to be heard. If for some reason a business does not offer employee health insurance, then it is in the best interest of the entire population to lobby for it. Is it not logical that healthy workers are better workers? Preventative education on health and lifestyle will end up costing the nation much less in medical care, and presumably a higher output of labor. What could be costly about that?
One common concern for businesses looking at the possibility of offering employee health insurance is the cost to the employer. A valid concern, for sure. Seek out companies who augment their policies with strategic partnerships that end up serving the client in ways other insurance companies cannot; for example, human resources consulting and audits. Additionally, be sure to remember one rosy little piece of information about California health insurance: any premium dollars spent by the employer are a tax write off.
In reality the chief concerns for both employees and employers is money. How much money will be exchanged for work, and how much will it cost for the work to be carried out. Businesses need to protect their investment in workers in all ways, but most importantly in their health.
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