KRISTIAN SEKULIC/GETTY IMAGES
THE THIRD METRIC
eyes and letting distractions simply float away,” a recording coos.
The programs are aimed at keeping employees healthy both in the
short- and long-term. “Our programs are focused on helping all
employees develop and maintain
a healthy lifestyle, including exercising and maintaining a healthy
weight, regardless of length of employment,” said Masser.
Some companies are finding
that thinking strategically about
personal sustainability is good for
the bottom line. After the insurance company Aetna discovered
that employees with the highest stress levels had health care
costs that were $2,000 higher
than those with the least stress, it
instituted two mind-body stress
reduction pilot programs: one that
focused on mindfulness meditation, and one that taught employees viniyoga, a type of yoga that
emphasizes repetition and breathing. Employee participants experienced a 33 percent to 36 percent
decrease in their perceived stress
levels and also saw improvements
in heart rate measures, an indication that their bodies were more
adept at managing the stress that
can accompany a long career.
“By helping employees reduce
HUFFINGTON
08.11.13
More than 80 percent of mid-size
and large U.S. companies now
offer incentives for employees who
participate in health programs.
stress or manage stress better, we
can not only help them improve
their health now, but also hopefully in the long term,” said Ethan
Slavin, a spokesperson for Aetna.
“We hope that these programs not
only help improve their health,
but also serve as another reason
that employees would stay with
Aetna for the long term, and in
turn be committed to the success
of the company.”
Of course, exposure to workplace wellness programs depends
on where you work. For individuals who are self-employed
or work for companies without