Will Obama tackle entire spectrum of workplace wellness?

May 14, 12:23 AMWork Life ExaminerJudy Martin

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You might remember the now famous footage of newly elected President Obama taking a break from pre-presidential duties on the beaches of Hawaii. (If not, you can check out the story here: Obama’s Hawaiian Work Life Strategy) He wasn’t sworn in yet, however the public did get a taste of his lifestyle. But once in office, would he just talk about workplace wellness or take it on as part of the overall concern about the dwindling health care programs and funding in the workplace?  

Now, a little over four months into his tenure it’s crunch time regarding workplace wellness. Companies are still battling skyrocketing health care costs while up against maintaining the health of workers in a stressed-out struggling economy. Yesterday, Mr. Obama met with some company chiefs to delve into the topic. From that, the White House released a fact sheet on Innovative Workplace Practices which outlined some of the president’s discussions with corporate heads from Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson and Pitney Bowes, among others. 

Here’s the problem. I read every word of that fact sheet and while there were mentions of “behavioral health incentives” I didn’t see a word about the psychological health of employees. This might be seen as an indirect correlation, but my gut tells me it’s crucial to include some of the following in the workplace wellness debate.  I’m all for staving off chronic illness, but I would have liked to hear more on the following:

1. Stress-reducing programs which are proving to battle burnout.
2. How Workplace Flexibility Arrangements might allow for a less stressed and more productive employee
3. The psychological impact of the current fiscal crisis on workers and what companies are doing about it
4. How offering elder care and childcare to employees might help allay concerns of workers thus leading to engaged employees who are more mentally alert and calm

We’re living in what many are describing as a “new economy” and what I refer to as a “chaos economy,” meaning that whether you work for a large corporation or own your own company - tumult abounds churning the chaotic waters of the business cycle. Inherent in that chaos is opportunity to turn workplace wellness around and include the details generally left as secondary. Work Life integration, culture, balance- whatever you want to call it -  by it’s very nature, becomes a wellness issue in a 24/7 world. Here’s the upshot, chaos inevitably leads to an unprecedented shift. It’s forcing review of infrastructure, creative innovations, and new approaches to the way we do business. 

This is a great start, but just the beginning of a deeper dive into the psyche of the corporation. How far will they go to retail skilled employees? Some have already begun the process recognizing the benefits of workplace wellness. Pitney Bowes has bought into the idea. Here’s a link to a story I did for Motto Magazine on Enlightened Leadership a while back. It’s a profile of its HR Chief Jonna Torsone. Some food for thought.

Fixing Health Care One Employee at a Time: Pitney Bowes’ Jonna Torsone

More Info: Write Judy at info(at)judymartinspeaks.com and learn more about her work at JudyMartinSpeaks.com. Visit her blog at WorkLifeNation.com.