The value of a healthy workforce is more and more being recognized by many companies all over the world. Human resources managers will surely attest that healthy employees are more often than not employees with higher levels of job satisfaction.
Having a healthy workforce is beneficial to any organization because it translates to high employee morale, minimum employee turnover, and a more energetic, positive, focused and productive workplace.
With this in mind, Pfizer, Inc. developed the Workplace Wellness Program, an initiative that aims to promote the general health and well being of the working population.
"We believe that healthy employees make healthy companies. Through the Workplace Wellness Program, Pfizer continues its efforts to battle various diseases and disseminate valuable health information to the public - this time to employees," says Ray Olano, Pfizer's Associate Director for Disease Management.
Since its launch in 2002, the program has been implemented in private corporations, schools, government institutions and media organizations in Metro Manila as well as in Cebu City.
The program was recently offered to the employees of BusinessWorld, the country's leading business newspaper.
Dr. Froilan Fransisco from the Internal Medicine Department of the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) conducted a lecture on "Enhancing Your Well-being in the Workplace". During the lecture, factors such as proper diet, exercise, sleeping habits were discussed and how these factors affect an employee's vigor and productivity at work. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions about various illnesses and diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, mental health and even sexual health.
Several tips on how to keep fit were given out, as well as interventions for heart diseases. A segment of the lecture was devoted to practical exercises that can be easily done at one's workstation.
Among the free medical tests offered by the Workplace Wellness Program were blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol screening and ECG tests, dental care as well as diagnostics tests and consultations on stress, erectile dysfunction, sleep disorder, and depression.
Olano adds: "We have received encouraging feedback from various companies that have availed of the program and we are constantly making improvements to make sure that what we offer continues to be relevant to the healthcare needs of the employees."
Pfizer, Inc. is a global research-based healthcare company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medicines for humans and animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products.
