At a Glance: the Future of Worker Well-Being
ACI Founder and CEO Dr. Ann D. Clark is a frequent media contributor. See Dr. Clark’s recent interview below, originally published in USA Today’s Medialanet insert.
“The growing presence of the Internet of Things has produced more and more smart activity trackers and connected health technology, providing unprecedented ease of exercise tracking, connectivity and ongoing monitoring.”
Mediaplanet: How is modern technology helping to improve the effectiveness of wellness programs?
Tech advancements have improved and streamlined the ability to not only identify high and moderate-risk employees, but also to deliver effective coaching and solutions in real-time. Account management capabilities are becoming more robust, allowing wellness teams to focus more on the people and less on the administration.
Additionally, technology has helped increase access, convenience and affordability for the end user, improving overall communication between the health care or wellness teams providing services. The growing presence of the Internet of Things has produced more and more smart activity trackers and connected health technology, providing unprecedented ease of exercise tracking, connectivity and ongoing monitoring. Wellness providers can now access detailed tracking to reward and motivate, which is key for keeping employees engaged and wellness programs effective.
MP: What is one common misconception about wellness programs?
An unfortunately prevalent misconception is that wellness programs are just ‘fluff’: perceived as ineffective and providing little return. This may be true for a lackluster wellness program, but it could also happen with a great wellness program, if not implemented and managed correctly. However, with a custom-tailored approach, thoughtful integration, organizational buy-in and a dedicated wellness team, these programs have the ability transform the overall company culture.
When done right, wellness programs provide meaningful assistance to employees who may have never been in a position to receive support in prioritizing their physical health. In addition to providing real ROI in reducing health care costs and absenteeism, wellness programs have the ability to transform not only companies but also communities as a whole.
MP: As wellness programs continue to adapt in order to better serve increasingly diverse employee populations, what strategies for improving overall well-being (if any) do you find to be relevant for everyone, across all demographic groups?
Communication is key, especially when talking about successfully reaching a variety of populations in the workplace. Utilizing technology to our advantage is important as long as it is understood that we can’t reach everyone through that mode; sometimes it is necessary to go back to basics with classic strategies such as face-to-face communication, education, and physical collateral—and not relying solely on tech.
Consistent wellness education seems to be the common theme to improve health across all demographics since it helps to target those lower on the readiness scale. Additionally, engaging the corporate population as a whole in team-based events (challenges, onsite seminars) fosters peer-to-peer education, which is a very powerful tool in influencing behavior change and enhancement of overall well-being.