How comprehensive are workplace wellness programmes?

Abstract

With increasing healthcare costs, more and more organisations are investing in wellness programmes to improve the health of their employees and therefore cut down on health care spend. Research has shown that companies with comprehensive programmes in place enjoy wellness programme outcomes of up to six times more than what they spend. The purpose of this study was to establish if South African workplace wellness programmes have the elements required for them to experience the outcomes they desire from a programme. Through in-depth interviews with wellness experts and wellness programme custodians of companies in the public and private sector, this study looked at defining a comprehensive wellness programme and evaluated participant organisations against this definition. This study found that South African wellness programmes were comprehensive however only those with goal-oriented wellness strategies in place enjoyed the benefits referred to in the literature. Due to a shortage of skilled wellness programme custodians, most organisations do not realise any significant benefits from their wellness programmes. Often any benefits attained are far less than expected.