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As companies make 2014 plans for their workforce, one area that deserves focus is employee wellness, according to David Yeghiaian, the director of Corporate Development at Holy Family Memorial.

He writes in htrnews.com: “With the beginning of a new year, people are always more health conscious. The key is to continue the momentum throughout the months and years ahead through a successful relationship between employees and employers. The personal advantages are easy – improved health – and the benefits to organizations can be lower healthcare costs.”

Yeghiaian also points out that focusing on wellness is one way for companies to address their rising health care costs: “With the advent of healthcare reform, wellness programs won a huge victory. For example, Medicare will pay for an annual wellness checkup and the healthcare reform also changed insurance regulations whereby insurers must demonstrate they are encouraging wellness initiatives.”

“Employer-based wellness programs are one avenue of encouraging a healthy workforce. These programs typically offer annual health risk assessments, lifestyle and wellness coaching, dietician sessions, smoking cessation classes, and a variety of other options such as disease management coaching. Such programs have positively impacted health insurance costs and been beneficial for employees.”

Yeghiaian concludes: “Creating a healthier workforce and reducing long-term healthcare requires an investment and collaboration by both employees and organizations. Employees must invest time and effort; while organizations must invest in employee physical and emotional wellness, which should translate into lower long-term healthcare expenses – a win-win for employees and organizations.”