Wellness + Technology: How HR teams can encourage physical, mental and financial health

Today, more companies across the country are introducing wellness initiatives to their health benefits packages to give employees a more-well rounded concept of coverage. In fact, two-thirds of U.S. employers already added this perk to their offerings, according to a Society of Human Resource Management Study. With increased access to and ownership of mobile devices, employees can marry wellness and technology by downloading helpful applications or videos on their smartphone or tablet.

"…With increased access to smartphones and the Internet, there is an unprecedented opportunity to use these less-expensive technologies to prevent, assess, and treat health behaviors across a wide segment of the population never before thought imaginable," Dr. Belinda Borrelli, professor and director of Behavioral Research of Boston University, said. Let's take a closer look at how human resources teams can encourage their employees to take advantage of technology to assist in their wellness.

Recommend helpful applications
There are a variety of online wellness programs online today that can help employees manage and improve their overall health. From calorie counters to financial activity trackers to sleeping aides, these applications extend past the normal definition of wellness and keep workers physically, mentally and financially stable.

"HR teams could take app suggestions from current employees."

To recommend the best options for their employees, HR teams should test out applications they believe could be worthwhile, according to Workforce. Company leaders could also take suggestions from employees already utilizing certain programs as recommendations. After trying out the different choices, HR personnel could include the cost of the application in their wellness benefits and encourage workers to use the ones they found the most productive and practical.

Explain cost-effectiveness
There's a reason why companies are introducing wellness perks to their benefits packages. These offerings reduce the cost of healthcare for both employers and their workers. Healthy employees cost businesses less, as organizations have to spend more money on people making large insurance claims and those who are absent due to illness. Workers in good condition are also more likely to stay with a company, according to a study by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health. Effective wellness programs can increase workers' personal happiness and job satisfaction, improving retention as a result.

Employees can also benefit from these initiatives. Participation in wellness perks can lead to fewer doctors' visits and a reduction in necessary medications, enabling people to lower their own healthcare costs, especially those out-of-pocket expenses.

With so many advances being made with technology every day, month and year, it's important for employers to use them to their advantage. When implementing wellness programs to their current health initiatives, companies and their HR teams should encourage workers to utilize their devices for the betterment of their well-being. Recommendations of helpful applications and programs and thorough explanations of the cost-effectiveness of this type of plan can ensure people feel supported and satisfied with their employer.

Triton Benefits can help your company manage its employee health and wellness offerings. Able to provide not only wellness technology but health coaching, Triton Benefits administer a comprehensive coverage experience.