With hundreds of thousands of working days lost to sick leave in Hong Kong each year, companies are understandably keen to keep their workforces healthy. But encouraging workers to take better care of themselves is not always an easy task, particularly given Hong Kong’s culture of long working hours and the multiple demands upon people’s time.
Many firms in Hong Kong have also been slow compared with their European and US counterparts to introduce measures that would help to empower their staff to keep fit and eat well.
But things are beginning to change as companies are realising that not only does having a wellness programme help to reduce the number of working days lost to illness, but it can also be a valuable tool in staff retention. Pauline Mei Ling Williams, director of employee benefits consultancy Mybenefits commented, “By giving staff access to valuable information on looking after themselves, it shows that the company cares about them. This can not only help to boost productivity, but it also keeps staff feeling positive about their employer. It is a win-win situation.”
Research has consistently shown that companies with wellness programmes have reduced healthcare costs. A US study, carried out for health insurer Highmark, found that healthcare costs rose at a 15% slower rate for staff who were offered a wellness programme compared with those who were not. At the same time, these programmes help to boost productivity and reduce absenteeism by helping staff to better manage conditions such as depression, stress and back pain.
Mybenefits from Alliance launched its engagement services with a view to helping firms introduce tailored wellness programmes for their employees. Williams stated, “We perceived a growing awareness among companies that employee benefits are not just about compensation, but rather about offering a wider range of services that make staff feel valued.”
Legal firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, decided to put a greater emphasis on employee wellbeing as part of an overhaul of its staff benefits offering. Lorelle Phoenix, the firm’s Asia Pacific Offices Manager said, “Employee wellbeing is very important, that is why we decided to implement a more holistic benefits programme.” The firm holds quarterly seminars on topics such as relaxation, stress management and nutrition, while it plans to hold its first Wellness Week in October, which will include chair yoga sessions and raw food cooking classes. The firm holds the seminars during office hours, so that they do not encroach on employees’ own time. Phoenix shared, “We have received very positive feedback. I hear conversations about the topics when I walk around the office.”
Mybenefits has found that structured health and wellness programmes, which embrace holistic wellness solutions for both body and mind, are the most popular. These programmes may consist of bespoke health talks, yoga and meditation sessions, spa evenings and health food classes. The group has obtained preferential rates with a number of providers, including the serene Bliss Spa at W and alternative healthcare provider SOL Wellness, to keep its services cost effective.
Williams points out that solutions also have to be compatible with workers’ busy lives, while sessions should be as interactive as possible. There is growing evidence that workers value wellness programmes, with companies that actively engage their employees reducing their voluntary staff turnover by around 25%, according to a US study by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health. Williams remarked, “If you put things in place to encourage people to take better care of themselves, you will in the long term be reducing absenteeism and have a happier, healthier workforce, leading to improved productivity.”
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
