Why do firms offer wellness programs and employee assistance programs?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Wellness programs are becoming more widespread as more employers become conscious of the impact employee health has on performance. Despite the recession of 2007/09, more employers created and expanded wellness programs. The traditional view that health is dependent on medical care and is the absence of disease is changing. Today, it is clear that optimal well-being is often achieved through environmental safety, organizational changes, and healthy lifestyles. There is growing evidence that in addition to containing direct medical costs, effective health programs boost productivity, reduce absenteeism, lower turnover and recruiting costs, and improve morale. The Drug-Free Workplace Act requires federal employees and employees of firms under government contract to have access to employee assistance program services. An employee assistance program (EAP) is a comprehensive approach that many organizations have taken to deal with numerous problem areas such as burnout, alcohol and drug abuse, and other emotional disturbances. The recession of 2008/2010 caused some EAPs to move beyond mental health to serve recession-induced employee issues such as financial and legal challenges.