Employee Wellness Programs - History - Part 2

Employee wellness programs have come a long way since their early beginnings. What started as sporadic efforts to address physical fitness and health issues has blossomed into a comprehensive approach to supporting the overall wellbeing of the workforce.

The Roots of Workplace Wellness

The origins of workplace wellness can be traced back to the 17th century, when Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini began studying the effects of work on worker health and advocating for preventative measures. This laid the groundwork for the occupational health and safety movement that emerged during the Industrial Revolution.

In the early 1800s, social reformers like Robert Owen proposed shorter work hours and other policies to protect worker wellbeing. By the mid-1900s, companies began offering Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) focused on issues like alcoholism and mental health.

The Wellness Movement Takes Hold

The modern wellness movement took off in the 1970s, spurred by influential works like Halbert Dunn's "High-Level Wellness" and John Travis' 12-dimension wellness model. This led to the establishment of the first university wellness center and the National Wellness Institute.

During this time, companies also started to view employee health as a way to contain rising healthcare costs. Johnson & Johnson's pioneering "Live for Life" program, launched in 1979, became a model for comprehensive workplace wellness initiatives.

The Expansion of Workplace Wellness

As wellness concepts gained mainstream popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, more and more companies adopted wellness programs covering fitness, nutrition, stress management, and mental health.

The turn of the century saw an explosion of workplace wellness, with over half of employers using health promotion strategies and a third investing in full-scale programs. Prominent wellness experts like Deepak Chopra and Andrew Weil also helped bring these ideas into the public consciousness.

Wellness in the Modern Workplace

Today, workplace wellness has evolved to address an even broader range of employee needs. Programs now commonly include financial wellness, work-life balance, and even spiritual and mindfulness practices.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend, as employers recognize the critical importance of supporting mental health and overall wellbeing amid increased stress and disruption.

Looking ahead, the future of workplace wellness will likely involve even tighter integration with healthcare, the rise of "wellbeing teams" comprising diverse experts, and a continued shift toward preventative, holistic approaches.

By tracing the rich history of this field, it's clear that employee wellness programs have come a long way - and will continue to play a vital role in supporting healthy, thriving workforces.

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Sources:

• https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/benefits-compensation/real-roi-employee-wellness-programs
• https://www.getbenepass.com/blog/7-ways-to-measure-roi-for-wellness-programs
• https://hbr.org/2010/12/whats-the-hard-return-on-employee-wellness-programs
• https://www.wellable.co/blog/voi-roi-the-case-for-employee-wellness-program-benefits/
• https://www.happy.co.uk/blogs/happy-workplaces-are-more-profitable/