Stress-reduction gets corporate attention

Because of the skyrocketing cost of healthcare and the many links between health problems and stress, many companies are implementing stress management programs.

Most larger companies have some form of employee assistance or wellness program, and many smaller organizations are following suit.

These businesses are realizing that prevention is often much more cost-efficient than necessary cures.

For example, many are realizing that it makes sense to pay for an addiction recovery program before an addicted employee gets to the stage of needing serious physical treatment or surgery.

It also makes sense to promote stress-relieving fitness programs, rather than waiting for an overworked, overstressed employee to need an expensive heart bypass operation.

If your company has a wellness or employee assistance program, here is

the kind of help you may be able to get:

* Literature should be available that states how the program operates with a clearly stated policy describing how the company will help with particular problems or needs.

* Often a short-term counseling service is available during off-hours at no charge to the employee.

This may be a 24-hour help line or a contracted service that you can visit locally.

* Some type of fitness or wellness program is usually included with exercise or aerobics classes, free or reduced-cost use of health club facilities, or an incentive program that rewards you for fitness activities you do on your own.

Don't hesitate to take advantage of such a program if it is available to you.

If your organization does not have such a program, you may want to propose that the possibility be investigated.

Your health insurance provider may be able to supply you with statistics about cost benefits for your company that you can show to your management people.

Take the initiative and help start your company's wellness program.

Jane Boucher is an author and professional speaker with offices in Carson City and Ohio.

Reach her at 775-884-4899, 937- 416-9881or janeboucher@mail.com.Her website is www.janeboucher.com