Discuss the prevalence and characteristics of corporate wellness programs.

University of Arizona Global Campus
Guidance for HWE 498
Health and Wellness Capstone
Week 3

Week 3 Overview

Welcome to week 3! It must be exciting to be so close to finishing your degree. At the same time, it may seem as though the weeks are dragging on. Keep the end in mind, stay motivated, and engaged as we discuss some of your health and wellness career goals and the job opportunities in the field. You will also have the opportunity to explore professional organizations and certifications to determine whether these will be beneficial for you in the future. Corporate wellness will receive lots of attention this week as this is an ever-growing arena with much need and opportunity. Stay focused and work hard this week – I know you can do it!

Guidance Introduction
Last week, you were able to explore health literacy and some common chronic diseases experienced by children and adolescents. Behavior change theories were reviewed and these can be helpful when working with clients individually or in a group setting (i.e. in a corporate setting). In fact, health literacy will also be crucial to understand when working in the corporate wellness arena. Let’s take a closer look at corporate wellness…

Corporate Wellness
With employees spending approximately one third of their day at work on five days per week, employers have many opportunities to promote healthy behaviors among the workforce. Corporate wellness programs can include specific services, policies, benefits, and community resources to improve the health and well-being of employees (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2013). Research is clear on the positive impacts of a comprehensive worksite wellness program in relationship to employees’ physical, psychological, and emotional health and well-being. Not only does a healthy body and mind benefit the employee, but positive effects are likely going to be experienced by colleagues, family members, and society as a whole. Healthier employees are generally happier, less stressed, and more pleasant to work with. Additionally, a healthy employee is more productive and constructive while at work. Absenteeism and turnover rates are also reduced when the health of employees is improved. Health care costs can be minimized for employers and employees alike since preventive care is much cheaper when compared to treatment and long-term care of chronic diseases (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2014).

Corporate wellness programs can be customized and designed based on the organization’s needs, desires, and available resources. Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) conducted among the workforce will provide great insight into health history, chronic diseases, and current health behaviors. In addition, a solid relationship and open communication lines with leadership and Human Resource personnel are essential to capture the needs and desires of an organization so that reasonable objectives can be set. Intervention options include but are not limited to tobacco cessation programs, exercise programs and classes, stress management workshops, and cooking classes (CDC, 2014).

According to the Department of Wisconsin Health Services (2015), grants may be available to aid small businesses in the creation of a worksite wellness program. Therefore, it is critical to check out local and state-wide resources should financial assistance be desired. As you will find through your own research, countless resources and tools are available to help in the design of appropriate worksite health promotion services and programs. For instance, the Worksite Wellness Resource Kit, made available by the Department of Wisconsin Health Services, entails numerous programmatic strategies that can be tailored to fit any budget. This kit also includes a rationale for the establishment of a worksite wellness program, tips on employee engagement, as well as assessment and evaluation methods. Moreover, checklists, recommendations, sample action plans, and budgetary plans are included (Department of Wisconsin Health Services, 2015).

Conclusion
Corporate wellness opportunities are ever-growing and thus, jobs in this field will be expanded which may provide options for your future career. The benefits of having healthy employees and healthier organizations are multi-fold; they go beyond the individual employee as the benefits will also positively impact teams, departments, entire organizations, families, and communities. Worksite health promotion programs have the potential to create a domino effect – but in a good way.

Additional Resources
Wieneke,K.C., Clark, M.M., Sifuentes, L.E., Egginton,J.S., Lopez-Jimenez, F., Jenkins, S.M., Riley, B.A.,
& Olsen, K.D. (2016). Development and impact of a worksite wellness champions program.
American Journal of Health Behavior, 40(2), 215-220. doi:10.5993/AJHB.40.2.6. Retrieved from
the CINAHL database in the University of Arizona Global Campus Library.
Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, Johns Hopkins University (2015, July 18). Extraordinary
workplace wellness programs [Video file]. Retrieved from

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018). Making the business case(Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh/business.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). Workplace health promotion(Links to an external site.). Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/index…

Department of Wisconsin Health Services (2015). Worksite wellness resource kit(Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/physical-activity/wo…

iStock Photos. Retrieved from http://www.istockphoto.com/photo/getting-creative-…Required Resources

Articles

Anderko, L., Roffenbender, J., Goetzel, R., Millard, F., Wildenhause, K., DeSantis, C., & Novelli, W. (2012). Promoting prevention through the Affordable Care Act: Workplace Wellness (Links to an external site.). Preventing Chronic Disease, 9 (E175). https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd9.120092

• This article discusses improving health and wellness at the workplace through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
  Accessibility Statement does not exist. This article will assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.
  Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

RAND Corporation (2013). Workplace wellness programs study (Links to an external site.). Rand Health Quarterly, 3(2). Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/periodicals/health-quarte…

• This report discusses the characteristics and impacts of worksite wellness programs as well as the effects on employee health and healthcare costs. Case studies and relevant examples are included in this report, along with data on effectiveness. This article will assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.
  Accessibility Statement does not exist
  Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Scholnik, J. (2013, September). 5 benefits of joining a professional association (Links to an external site.). USA Today. Retrieved from http://college.usatoday.com/2013/09/19/5-benefits-…

• This author discusses five benefits of joining a professional organization. The article is targeted toward students. This article will assist you in the Certifications and Professional Organizations Discussion this week.
  Accessibility Statement does not exist.
  Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Multimedia

Donohue, D. (2014, March 11). Safeway – Corporate wellness initiative (Links to an external site.) [Video file]. Retrieved from 

• This video highlights wellness initiatives taken by Safeway. Data on the wellness program and its impacts on employee health are included. This media will assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.
  Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
  Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Web Pages

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). Essential elements of effective workplace programs and policies for improving worker health and wellbeing (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/TWH/essentials.html

• This website entails a comprehensive guide for employers and other professionals who attempt to create effective worksite wellness programs. Relevant components of effective programs are discussed, along with practical recommendations for implementation. This webpage will assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.
  Accessibility Statement
  (Links to an external site.)Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Johnson & Johnson. (2018). Our approach in health and wellness (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.jnj.com/jjhws

• This site provides some in insight into Johnson & Johnson’s employee wellness efforts and the effectiveness of such actions. This webpage will assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.
  Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
  Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Johnson & Johnson (2016). Protecting our people (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from http://www.jnj.com/caring/protecting-our-people

• This site highlights current resources and initiatives implemented by Johnson & Johnson for the promotion of health and wellness among its employees. This webpage will assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.
  Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)
  Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Recommended Resources

Articles

Centers for Disease Control. (2017). Healthy communities program (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/programs/healthyco…

• This handbook, created by the Partnership for Prevention and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, entails specific recommendation for health practitioners and other health and wellness professionals regarding the implementation of effective intervention and health promotion strategies. Specific action guides are included. This webpage may assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.
  Accessibility Statement
  (Links to an external site.)Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)

Texas Department of State Health Services (n.d.). Cardiovascular health and wellness program (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from http://www.wellnessproposals.com/pdfs/tool_kits/wo…

• This document offers tips when creating specific worksite wellness programs. Worksite policies are addressed and additional tools and resources are included. This webpage may assist you in the Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment this week.

Websites

O*Net OnLine (Links to an external site.). (http://www.onetonline.org/)

• This website allows users to search for specific occupations and learn more about the typical knowledge, skills, abilities, requirements, and setting of a chosen occupation. This webpage may assist you in the Health and Wellness and Jobs and Career Goals Discussion this week.
•  

Overview

Learning Outcomes

This week students will:

1. Analyze job opportunities in the health and wellness field.
2. Evaluate the importance of joining a professional organization.
3. Evaluate the importance of obtaining relevant certifications and credentials.
4. Assess corporate wellness programs and their effectiveness.

Introduction

Congratulations on making it to Week 3 in HWE 498! This week focuses on your specific career goals and available job opportunities in the health and wellness arena. You will have a chance to research specific jobs of interest to you and examine the relating job requirements and benefits. In addition, professional organizations and certifications will be discussed and their respective benefits will be evaluated. Lastly, you will get an opportunity to analyze corporate wellness programs and some of the essential components entailed in such initiatives. The effectiveness of corporate wellness programs will be assessed via the examination of a case study.

Corporate Wellness Question and Answer Assignment

One of the potential jobs you could have someday is working as a Certified Worksite Wellness Specialist for a large corporate organization. Corporate Wellness Practitioners or Certified Worksite Wellness Specialists work at organizations to assess, analyze, and improve the health of an organization’s employees. Employee wellness programs have been shown to have many benefits for the employee and employer. Employees spend 36% (or more) of their time on the job (Texas Department of State Health Services (Links to an external site.), n.d.). Employees who participate in wellness programs can improve their physical and mental health, boost morale at work, and reduce stress, absenteeism, and healthcare costs. Therefore, the organizations’ cultural climate and productivity are improved as well (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013).

Part A:

• Review the article by Anderko et. al (Links to an external site.) (2012) and RAND Workplace Wellness Programs Study (Links to an external site.) and address the following elements on the template  Download template.
  • Appraise the role of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on worksite wellness programs.
  • Discuss the prevalence and characteristics of corporate wellness programs.
  • Analyze the impact of corporate wellness programs.
  • Assess the role of incentives on corporate wellness program outcomes.

Part B:

• Assume you are interviewing for a Corporate Wellness Practitioner position at Johnson & Johnson in two weeks. After reviewing the required resources for this week, use the template  Download templateand discuss the following in preparation for the upcoming interview:
  • Analyze Johnson & Johnson’s current mission on wellness and prevention and the organizations’ wellness benefits for employees.
  • Evaluates available data regarding the effectiveness of the company’s wellness efforts.
  • Create two recommendations for improvement of the current wellness program. State your rationale for making these recommendations.
  • Prepare two recommendations to increase employee participation for the upcoming year.

The Corporate Wellness Assignment (Parts A and B)

• Must use the template and formatted according to APA style (Links to an external site.), as outlined in the Writing Center.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least four scholarly sources (Links to an external site.). The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment. Be sure to integrate your research (Links to an external site.) rather than simply inserting it.
• Must cite all sources in APA style, as outlined here (Links to an external site.) and here (Links to an external site.).
• Must include a separate reference page (Links to an external site.) that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

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