Health & Wellness Integral to Workforce & Economic Development

One of the biggest challenges companies face today is the attraction and retention of quality employees, and member businesses routinely tell us the important role employee health and wellness plays in this area. Studies have established that poor employee health has immediate effects on today’s workforce and businesses’ ability to thrive, and effective workplace wellness initiatives have been shown to positively impact employees, their families, our community and their business.

Recently, our Economic & Workforce Development Manager, Ananda Sweet, participated in a Health & Wellness Discovery Roundtable with a dozen other Chambers from across the nation. Inclusion in this roundtable was based on a Chamber’s strong workforce development component, and we were invited because of our WHEEL (Worksite Held Employee English Learning) program.

At this forum, examples of workplace wellness programs and best practices were shared. Kansas City’s Healthy KC was highlighted as a model in economic and workforce development, demonstrating the potential to improve morale and productivity, enhance recruitment and retention, combat employee absenteeism, reduce healthcare costs for employers and create positive work environments.

The Metro Chamber is working on a workplace wellness approach that encourages organizations to adopt programs, policies and activities that foster healthy behaviors and improve health outcomes. Over the next several months, we look forward to sharing elements of an employee wellness program that can positively impact employees, their families, communities and businesses.