when individuals are healthy it improves productivity decreases sick days and leaves of absences lowers an organization s health insurance expenses reduces turnover and lowers the chances of workers compensation claims employees can also benefit from wellness programs through lower health insurance premiums decreased out of pocket medical expenditures and an increased sense of wellbeing 
there are many ways that wellness programs can help individuals make healthy choices to improve their lifestyles companies can offer in house workout spaces or marked walking paths on the corporate campus to encourage physical activity some corporations may even offer financial incentives such as lower health insurance premiums or gift cards for meeting fitness goals offerings may include regardless of how they may be advertised by those who offer them many people choose not to participate in wellness programs some of the main reasons may include a lack of time and commitment and a general lack of knowledge on how to claim wellness related benefits some people may feel uncomfortable about how health screenings and personal information will be used corporate wellness programs should aim to promote the mindfulness of workplace noise and allow individuals to take regular breaks special considerationsorganizations may create wellness related linkages between their programs and other company benefits such as employee assistance programs eaps these programs provide support for employees when they find themselves in difficult emotional or physical situations that affect both their health and work eaps connect employees to counselors who can advise them confidentially on issues ranging from emotional distress a difficult medical diagnosis and personal or work related issues to life events such as marriage or parenting 1criticism of wellness programsalthough they are designed to give individuals a leg up on their health by improving wellbeing and reducing operating costs there is some criticism of wellness programs one common criticism of these programs is that they only cater to individuals who are already healthy and that they don t necessarily appeal to those who may have emotional and or physical issues some critics argue that health screenings are controversial components of many company wellness programs corporate wellness programs can lead to unnecessary over testing that s because some people contend that tracking cholesterol body mass index and other figures leads to de facto discrimination and heavier financial burdens placed on workers with below average health 2the motivations for employer and insurance company sponsored wellness programs are heavily debated although these programs may be designed to improve individual health corporations may adopt certain initiatives that may not actually contribute to people s wellbeing instead they may be developed to simply boost a company s bottom line 