Why B Corps Recommends a Wellness Program

Certified B Corporations are companies that have met rigorous, independent standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. However, like any company, there are always areas of improvement.

One of the best areas for B Corps (and other sustainable businesses) to improve is by providing health and wellness programs to their employees. These programs usually focus on things like stress management, mental health, fitness, nutrition and work/life balance.

How the top B Corps do wellness

In addition to helping individual workers, healthy living programs have been shown to enhance a company’s bottom line.

For example, Johnson & Johnson estimates that its health and wellness program had a return on investment of $2.71 for every dollar spent between 2002 and 2008. A study of a different employer found an even higher return: Every dollar invested in healthy interventions resulted in $6 in health-care savings.

One innovative way of reducing stress is to keep workers and their families closer together.

Patagonia (one of the most well-known B Corps) has provided subsidized, on-site child care since 1984. Founder Yvon Chouinard says that on-site child care is a profit center rather than a financial burden.

“Seventy-one percent of our employees are women, and many occupy high-level management positions,” says Chouinard. “Studies have shown that it costs a company an average of $50,000 to replace an employee — from recruiting costs, training and loss of productivity. Our child-care center helps us retain our skilled moms.”

How can you do this at your company?

There are many different things you can do to promote employee health and wellness!

Just take it from some of the 1,800 certified B Corps. Right now, these companies are offering benefits like discounted gym memberships, wellness incentives, lunchtime running groups or exercise classes, organic fruit and healthy snacks, cooking classes, free access to a nutritionist, wellness goal-setting, and even a company-hosted gardening program.

Curious about how you can create your own wellness program? Talk to one of our benefits specialists.