Employers are Helping Employees Stay Healthy
ROCHESTER, MINN. -- It's happening in all sizes of businesses -- the workplace is becoming an important venue for employees to obtain information about how to stay healthy. That trend comes in part because companies are looking for ways to control healthcare costs by teaching good health habits.
Dr. Phil Hagen, Mayo Clinic, believes that employers can decrease absenteeism, increase productivity and lower their healthcare costs if they supply reliable health information to their employees. And, healthier employees can lead to a healthier bottom line.
In the past two years, Mayo Clinic has supplied hundreds of companies with employee wellness newsletters and self-care books. "Companies with 25 employees up to 100,000 employees have turned to us for materials about health matters for their employees," Dr. Hagen says. "Some companies need information to help employees manage chronic conditions such as back pain; others find topics in our newsletter especially pertinent to their workplace -- such as dealing with stress, how to get along with the boss, and balancing work and family."
"Workplace health information programs are appreciated by employees," Dr. Hagen adds. "When employees have a reliable source to turn to, they can take care of everyday health problems themselves. They use the materials to figure out whether or not they should see a doctor. They use the information to prevent illness."
To select the best materials for your employees, Dr. Hagen suggests this evaluation: * Is the book, newsletter or online service from a reliable source? * Is it quick to read and easy to understand? * Does it cover the most common reasons for sick-days at your workplace? * Does it cover disease prevention, self-care, first-aid and emergencies?
For information about the Mayo Clinic HealthQuest employee health information program, call 1-800-430-9699.
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Contact: Suzanne Leaf-Brock 507-284-1114 (days) 507-284-2511 (evenings) [email protected]
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