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Dr. Kerryn Phelps

Might a strong workplace wellness program serve as an effective method to recruit and retain good employees?

That's what the former president of the Australian Medical Association Dr. Kerryn Phelps argues.

Dr. Phelps recently “warned businesses they will need to embrace a ‘wellness culture' to hold on to staff in the future, as the costs of absenteeism and presenteeism – where staff at work are not functioning at their best – rise,” according to the Canberra (Australia) Times reports.

The piece further reports that “the modern trend for employees to have up to 10 jobs in their lifetime meant unhealthy workplaces would lose out.”

Said Dr. Phelps: “A wellness culture will become important, and the default, if they want to attract and retain good people.”

Dr. Phelps made her comments recently at the National Workplace Wellness Symposium in Canberra.

Importantly, she added that one key area for workplaces to focus on: Mental Wellness.

The Times reports: “Mental health remained a weak point for employers, with only half of working Australians reporting their employer provided support for those issues.”

“Dr Phelps said most of the most common health issues which impacted workers, such as physical inactivity, poor nutrition habits, stress and fatigue, needed to be addressed both during and outside work.”