Question

What is an ethical concern regarding employee wellness programs?

There are no ethical concerns with employee wellness programs
possibly losing great employees due to focus on the exercise programs
putting individuals who physically can't workout at a disadvantage

Answer 1

The employers these days are worried about the increase in their healthcare costs. Also if the employee gets ill there is absentism, reduced productivity and also the morale of the employee goes down. So the employers are coming up with employee wellness programs so that the employees remain fit and healthy and company can reduce the cost of healthcare and get enhaced productivity and morale of emplyee with least absentism of the employee on health grounds. But, it is of great concern that there ared various ethical concerns related to the wellness programs and its implementation.

1. There could be harrassment at workplace because of the non participation of the employee in the heath and wellness program of the company.

2. The ultimate aim and objective of the employer is not concerned with the health of the employees but it is concerned with reducing the healcare costs of the organisation.

3. Is the employer getting more control over the employees by implementing these programs.

4. Some negative feeling may be created on the part of employee regarding the program.

5. Healthy applicants would be attracted towards the employer.

6. There will be loss of productive time as the employee is spending time on wellness program.

7. There will be setting up cost associated with the wellness program and it may be sometime more than the healthcare cost of the organisation.

8. If the wellness program is not implemented properly there would be problems between employee and the employer.

9. There would be legal challenges related to stauatory requirements of the wellness programs.

10. If the programs are incentive based those not attending it will loose the incentive.