Preventative health often means different things to different people. For some, it’s about seasonal flu vaccinations; for others, it’s booking in for regular health screenings. Overall, preventative health has traditionally been viewed through the lens of illness prevention. 

Our research and expert findings show that reframing how we view preventative health – moving from illness prevention to wellness promotion – offers many benefits to employees.

Organisations that include more proactive health measures, such as movement reminders, guided meditation breaks and out-of-hours “switch off” policies, create opportunities for their staff to look after their wellbeing everyday.

Our insights show the employer has a role to play in cultivating a wellness-focused mindset, particularly when environmental factors outside the workplace prevent employees from proactively managing their health.

In this article, we’ll outline what reframing preventative health looks like in the workplace and illustrate how it benefits employees.

While 51% of those surveyed engaging in checkups is positive to one extent, the fact that 49% don’t do so at all shows that preventative health policies aren’t being practically adopted as much as they could be. Our research shows us that cost (54%) and lack of time (45%) are the key barriers cited by those surveyed as to why they aren’t engaging. 

Proactivity boosts employee wellbeing

Three out of four corporate employees surveyed in our research (75%) agree that engaging in preventative healthcare activities “saves time and money in the long run."

Insights like this reinforce the case for making proactive health a visible part of workplace culture. But what does that look like in practice? One example could be encouraging more cycling to work by improving on-site bicycle parking facilities. Another could be the provision of effective childcare and/or flexibility for parents. Some organisations could choose to incentivise breaktimes or restrict weekend emails.

Health prevention to health promotion

The main takeaway from this is that organisations who seek to tilt the balance from health prevention to health promotion see gains in performance and employee wellbeing. Consistency is also key: our panel of experts advocated for improvements in the integration of proactive health into workplaces’ core policies and strategies, rather than relying on once-off initiatives. 

When treated as a strategic tool in this way, as opposed to an occasional perk, proactive wellness programmes significantly and positively impact employee satisfaction and overall company performance. 

Employers can play a critical role by moving their organisation towards a holistic wellness strategy that supports employee wellbeing and anticipates future challenges through early detection, awareness of lifestyle choices (e.g., diet, smoking) and integrated wellness initiatives.

When employees are encouraged to take an active role in putting this strategy into practice, backed by a leadership that models healthy behaviour from the top down, the entire organisation benefits in the following ways:

• Holistic support leads to better outcomes: Addressing all aspects of wellbeing helps employees feel more balanced and supported, leading to better overall health outcomes.
• Increased engagement and productivity: When employees feel supported in all areas of their lives, they are more likely to be engaged and productive at work. 
• Reduced healthcare costs: A comprehensive wellness programme can lead to lower healthcare costs by preventing a range of health issues, such as burnout, and reducing absenteeism.
• Enhanced company culture: A focus on holistic wellness fosters a positive work environment and a strong sense of community among employees.

The good news is that, with Vhi’s help, no organisation needs to do any of the heavy lifting involved in this alone. Find out what our experts recommend and how Vhi can support you on our navigating unwritten rules in the workplace article.