One in four of your female colleagues or one in three of your male colleagues could die as a result of South Africa's primary killer - heart disease.
Recent statistics from a Corporate Absenteeism Management Solutions (CAMS) survey of 60 South African companies with more than 7000 employees over the course of a year, revealed that sick absenteeism costs corporate SA about R19 billion per year.
Corporate wellness strategies and health related efforts implemented by management to support employees are vital in all companies. As individuals spend most of their time in the workplace, it is the key location for the development of unhealthy lifestyles and for the promotion of healthy habits.
Poor health of employees has a devastating impact on the revenue of a company as it reduces productivity. As a result, many companies have fostered a new approach to employee health with the implementation of Corporate Wellness Programmes. These Programmes effectively manage employee health and productivity at a corporate level. They have become a strategy element assisting in organisational development and organisational effectiveness.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) promotes Corporate Wellness Week from July 7 - 11 to large corporations in an attempt to create awareness of heart disease and its risk factors. HSFSA offers blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screening for staff members, as well as a health risk report of these screenings to management, at a minimal fee.
The core objectives for Corporate Wellness Week are to encourage employees to live a healthy lifestyle, provide corporations with information to improve the health of their staff and provide a benchmark for HSFSA to promote its services to the community.
“Wellness promotion at work is a positive and effective way to fight the alarming incidence of cardiovascular disease in our country,” says Shân Biesman-Simons, Director of Nutrition and Education at HSFSA.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol have few visible symptoms, therefore testing is crucial. A healthy diet, regular exercise and a balanced approach to life ensures a healthy heart and body with a stronger immune system.
Wellness Programmes in the workplace that incorporate healthy environments, health promotion, education and health screenings have been shown to:
Improve employee health
Reduce employee stress
Reduce workforce turnover
Reduce absenteeism
Create a healthier organisational culture, and
Improve employee morale and loyalty.
Companies can get involved by taking a stance and encouraging staff to be more health conscious about heart disease and its various risk factors. Educating your staff on the risks of heart disease will ensure a healthier and productive workforce.
Corporate Wellness adds value to the corporate world as it proves to be an invaluable asset to increasing a company's productivity, boosts employee morale and contributes to a more profitable company.
Visit our PRESS OFFICE: Established in 1980, the Heart Foundation recently amalgamated with the Stroke Foundation, becoming the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA)- more....
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