Employee health screenings are one of the most important aspects of a successful workplace wellness program. Why? Because without annual screenings, an employer can’t accurately gauge the health and wellness needs of their workforce. Not to mention, employees are likely to be in the dark about any potential risks to their health.

Biometric screenings are an effective preventative service for your employees. The results obtained from these screenings give employees a snapshot of their current health status. Screening events help employees learn if they are at risk for high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. The results show employees where they might need to make some changes in their daily habits to improve their overall health.

Planning an employee biometric screening is a great step in the right direction in providing preventative healthcare assistance for your employees. However, we know that planning these types of events – especially if it’s your first time – can be a bit challenging. As you begin to plan your event, you’ll probably have some questions. 

It’s likely that some of your employees believe the flu shot will make them sick. In fact, this belief is one of the top main reasons some Americans go unprotected against the flu each year. A 2014 study found that 43% of Americans believe they will get sick from the flu shot. And that couldn’t be further from the truth.

For employers, debunking this myth at your workplace is one of the best things you can do to help boost corporate flu shot participation. When employees are uneducated about the vaccine and the danger of getting ill from the flu, they are likely to skip their annual flu shot. With each employee left unvaccinated, your company faces a higher risk of an office flu epidemic.

Not sure how to tackle this common myth at your company? We’re here to help debunk that myth, and explain why the flu shot truly is beneficial for you and your employees.

If your morning and evening commutes are your least favorite part of your workday, you’re not alone. In fact, a daily car commute is ranked as one the top two things Americans hate the most on a day-to-day basis, only second to housework.

Not only is your daily commute unpleasant, it’s also bad for your overall health and wellbeing. According to a 2014 study by the University of Waterloo, the more time you spend commuting, the less likely you are to be satisfied with life. Similarly, another recent study found that adding 20 minutes to your daily commute has the same negative effort on job satisfaction as receiving a 19% pay cut.

These studies show that long commutes take a serious toll on not only your personal life, but on your professional life as well. So, why exactly are long commutes so dangerous to your health?

When it comes to staying healthy during flu season, many employees seem to be complacent. They don’t always take action – and many of your employees don’t think the flu is “that big of a deal."

But why is that? Why are some employees willing to take their chances against the flu, rather than taking one simple step to help prevent it? Well, there isn’t just one clear answer. In fact, the flu season comes with many obstacles that can lead to complacency and inaction. 

Employers need to be aware of these obstacles so that they can address them in the workplace. If employers ignore these factors, they won’t see ideal participation rates for corporate flu shots – meaning their workforce is at a much higher risk of a flu outbreak. 

While “work-life balance” might be a popular buzz term in the past few years, many employees have yet to reach a positive relationship between their work life and personal life. A survey from earlier this year conducted by FlexJobs found that more professionals are struggling with work-life balance now than they were three years ago. The survey analyzed results from over 1,200 employees to determine how work impacts their work-life balance, relationships, health, stress levels, physical fitness, and more. 

Unfortunately, the survey didn’t reveal good news. According to its results:

• Only 30% of employees are currently satisfied with their work-life balance, compared to 45% in the same survey administered three years ago
• 37% of employees reported being stressed by their level of work-life balance – up from 29% in 2015

It was also noted that work was a top source of stress, with 86% of survey respondents reporting that work “conflicts with their efforts to take care of their overall health.” So, what can employers learn from this survey? Many studies have shown that traditional office schedules do more harm than good when it comes to employee health, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. 

With flu season coming up, you’re probably just starting to plan your next on-site flu shot clinic. Which is great news because corporate flu shots are the best way to protect your office from a flu epidemic. Every flu season is a little bit different, so early planning will help ensure that you’ll get the right protection for your workforce.

We know that planning an on-site flu shot clinic can be a little bit tricky if you’re not sure what questions to ask your vendor. So, we rounded up 10 of the most common questions clients have about planning a corporate flu shot clinic. Here are some questions to keep in mind as you plan: 

Stress is one of the most common challenges employees face. It’s also one of the most damaging, too. Unmanaged stress can lead to burnout, unhealthy habits, and harm an employee’s mental and physical health. 

According to research from the American Institute of Stress (AIS), 40% of employees reported their job was very or extremely stressful, and 25% view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives. Based on these stats, it’s safe to assume that a majority of your workforce is dealing with workplace stress on a daily basis.

While stress might seem like it’s a normal part of office culture, it shouldn’t ever be excused or ignored. When stress becomes chronic, it can have dangerous effects on an employee’s health and wellbeing. In fact, AIS also found that job stress is more strongly associated with health complaints than financial or family problems are.

Flu season is approaching faster than you think! That means it’s time to start figuring out your game plan. But how early is too early to start discussing corporate flu shots? Well, it depends who you’re talking to. 

Part of your role as a corporate flu shot coordinator at your company is getting the flu season conversation started. After all, flu shots are most likely the last thing on upper management’s mind during the summer months.

You know you need to protect your workforce in the fall, but how early should your planning start? Let’s break it down: 

A commonly overlooked aspect of employee health is hydration. While it might not sound as important as nutrition and exercise, staying well hydrated is critical to overall health and wellbeing. And unfortunately, research suggests that 75% of Americans may suffer from chronic dehydration. 

This means that many of your employees likely aren’t drinking as much water as they should – and your team can’t perform their best when they’re dehydrated. In fact, just a 2% loss of water levels in the body can lead to a decrease in mental and physical performance. This loss of water can negatively affect memory, energy levels, and other essential cognitive functions.

Not only is dehydration a danger to productivity and work performance, but it’s also a danger to your employees’ health. Dehydration can result in headaches, dizziness, irritability, and much more. That’s why it’s important for employers to encourage employees to drink more water at work. And what better way to do so than with a new wellness challenge?! 

The summer season comes with some awesome health benefits. Largely due to the weather, people are much more active during the summer than they are during the colder months of the year. People are walking, biking, hiking, running, and participating in healthy leisurely activities like gardening.

Unfortunately, sometimes these summertime activities can bring additional health risks to your employees. While this doesn’t mean your employees should stay inside all summer long, employees should still be aware of any potential health hazards the season has to offer.

With a little bit of prevention, employees can enjoy the summertime in all its glory without having to fear any summer health risks. Keep on reading to learn about seven summer health hazards and some tips on how to avoid them.