The Future Of Work: Promoting A
Healthy Environment In The
Modern Workplace
Employee morale and happiness at work are crucial factors to
any company’s success. Understanding what motivates job
seekers and current employees alike can make all the difference
when creating a healthy company culture and environment.
Emphasizing a healthy workplace culture can increase retention
as well as employee engagement. At the heart of a company’s
success is often a culture that truly demonstrates its value and
appreciation of employees, which can often be found by
supporting employees’ physical and mental health.
Finding Value In Wellness
Nearly ten years ago, prior to joining Marathon Health, I was
looking for a solution to the rising healthcare expenses for my
employer and increased claims by our employees. This trend had
been going on for a number of years and after a few years of
increasing rates and reworking health care plans, we decided to
focus on wellness to see if that would move the needle.
First, we offered a wellness plan that included activities to
educate and inform employees about the impact that wellness
could have on their lives. At the end of the year, we saw a slight
decrease in claims and expenses. Because the decrease was
small, we decided to push our approach to the next level — we
moved our wellness program from activities-based to results-
based. As part of this move, we began offering onsite healthcare
to promote wellness, providing support for a wellness plan that
focused on results to earn incentives and continued to educate
employees on the need for engagement in the program and the
health center.
In a few short years, we saw several significant changes in the
cost of healthcare and the health and happiness of our
employees. We had reduced claims to the extent that there were
minimal health insurance increases. With these results, the
health center became the cornerstone of our benefit plans. Our
employees listed the health center, our pension plan and free
parking as the top three benefits that our employer provided. It
was the proof we needed to know that employees today feel most
valued at companies that care about their well-being both in and
out of the office.
Debby Routt, Forbes Human Resources Council Jan 29, 2021
1. What is a healthy work environment?
a) A place where employees work alone
b) A place with clean and comfortable spaces, good relationships, and a focus on
mental health
c) A place where employees can work overtime
2. Why is mental health important in the workplace?
a) Because it makes employees work harder
b) Because it helps employees stay relaxed and focused
c) Because it increases employee salaries
3. What are some ways to promote a healthy workplace?
a) By encouraging long working hours
b) By promoting team-building activities, providing mental health support, and
encouraging flexibility
c) By reducing employee breaks
4. Why is leadership important in creating a healthy work environment?
a) Good leadership helps employees make more money
b) Leaders can create a culture of respect, communication, and support
c) Leaders tell employees what to do without asking their opinion
5. What impact does a healthy work environment have on employees?
a) It helps them work longer hours
b) It increases their happiness, productivity, and health
c) It makes them feel tired and stressed
6. Environment
a) A person who manages a company
b) The physical and social conditions in a workplace
c) A place where employees work in silence
7. Mental Health
a) Physical strength
b) The state of being mentally healthy and happy
c) The ability to learn new skills quickly
8. Support
a) To help and give encouragement
b) To work alone
c) To give orders to others
9. Leadership
a) The ability to lead or manage people in a workplace
b) The state of working in silence
c) The space where employees meet for breaks
10. Flexibility
a) A rigid work schedule
b) The ability to change or adapt work hours and tasks
c) The ability to work with machines
