Workplace Wellness Programs: Stress Management

Stress continues to drive workers’ work-related health concerns, which is probably why most respondents (78 percent) in a recent survey claim they would participate in a Corporate Wellness Plan to help their overall health and wellness.

In a recent study commissioned by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN), 500 full-time workers nationwide were interviewed by telephone.

“Today’s workers are clearly dealing with a lot of pressures such as the effects of 9/11, an unstable economy, national security threats and work/balance issues. There is a real opportunity for employers to serve as an ally to their workers by offering them with resources to better manage their physical and emotional health – anything from stress management seminars to nutrition and physical fitness counseling,” says Deborah V. DiBenedetto, president of AAOHN.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents believe their health would improve if they were offered the right information and tools through a viable Workplace Wellness Program.

Topping the list of most interesting Workplace Wellness Programs cited by workers is stress management (85 percent), closely followed by screening programs (84 percent), exercise/physical fitness programs (84 percent), health insurance education (81 percent) and disease management seminars (80 percent).

More than half of workers (61 percent) would rather receive health and wellness information from a medical consultant or onsite nurse, compared to pamphlets or brochures (18 percent) or human resources staff (15 percent).