by Brianna Crandall — December 25, 2015—As corporate wellness initiatives take root globally, corporate real estate (CRE) executives are in a unique position to demonstrate leadership and serve as a strategic resource for the organization, according to a new research report from global CRE professional association CoreNet Global, How Well Do You Know Wellness?
Wellness programs will be a corporate mandate for many organizations as the competition for talent continues to intensify,” according to the new report. “Corporate real estate leaders can use this opportunity to be proactive — instead of reactive — and deliver strategic value to their organizations.”
“These programs will be manifested in both the built environment and the associated physical amenities, along with preventative health monitoring and treatment. Fostering an engaged workforce through encouragement and support (both personally and professionally) will be an essential part of a holistic approach that creates a productive and fulfilled workforce,” according to the report.
The World Economic Forum has identified the growing importance of health in the economy as one of the Top Ten Megatrends for 2015. And the National Wellness Institute has recognized six dimensions of wellness: occupational, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual and emotional.
As it pertains to corporate real estate, wellness is tied to the workplace through many initiatives including but not limited to:
- Air quality;
- Cleaning materials;
- Healthy food options;
- Lighting;
- Physical space design; and
- Dedicated physical activity spaces.
Real-world examples cited in the report provide evidence that wellness programs positively impact the corporate bottom line. After implementing a wellness program in the mid-1990s, Johnson & Johnson estimated that wellness programs saved the company $250 million on health-care costs over a decade, with a return of $2.71 for every dollar spent between 2002 and 2008.
Effective wellness programs can also increase morale, reduce health care costs and increase productivity — through decreasing both absenteeism and “presenteeism,” defined as what occurs when employees come to work but underperform due to illness or stress, notes the report.
