Mobilization and engagement

Any health and wellness program implemented within your company must be understood, accepted and supported at all levels, from senior management to employees. Engagement is about convincing your employees that changing their lifestyle habits and adopting preventive health practices will have a positive impact on their quality of life and well-being in the workplace.

In recent years, the issue of demographic decline has become a concern for many employers. Since 2011, people aged 65 and over have outnumbered those aged 0 to 14 in Quebec. These Statistics Canada estimates suggest that the proportion of the active population (aged 15 to 64) will decline by almost 5% over the next 10 to 15 years¹. To cope with this situation, companies need to improve their recruitment and retention processes to keep their workforce employed for as long as possible.

Within a context of scarcity, future employees will prioritize workplaces that promote a better quality of life. By investing in a health and wellness program, you are sending these employees an important message, “Here, we care about you and your health.” A formal commitment that clearly communicates living values in your workplace.

For example, joining the workplace health and wellness program allows an employer to gain a competitive advantage. It’s a way to attract skilled labour, and it’s done in a context where employers compete for fewer people. This is a significant factor, especially considering the high costs associated with the departure of an employee and the recruitment and training of their replacement.

1. Côté, Jean-Guy, Simon Savard and Sonny Scarfone. Quebec’s Aging Population and Economy, Montreal: Institut du Québec, 2017. Institut du Québec, a partnership between The Conference Board of Canada and HEC Montréal, 2017