NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- EHE International, the recognized leader in preventive medicine and annual physical exams, today announced that the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently published an article Shared Values: The Next Step in Corporate Wellness by EHE President and COO Deborah McKeever and Edington Associates founder Dee Edington, Ph.D., urging corporations to retain top talent by adopting a broader mission that prioritizes the health and wellness of their employees.

With the latest research showing that companies have difficulty retaining top talent, McKeever and Edington argue that the gap between corporate and employee expectations is wider than ever. In order to retain their best employees, businesses must enact “a shared values approach that ensures employees feel vital, engaged, impactful and productive,” they write. The key to aligning employee expectations with corporate goals is through an employee wellness campaign that encourages healthier behavior within the workforce.

However, while 92 percent of employers with 200 or more employees reported offering workplace wellness programs in 2009, according to a RAND study, less than 20 percent of eligible employees participated.

“Why are current wellness programs falling short?” the authors ask. “In our experience working with leading companies over many decades, the majority of companies neglect to develop a unifying and credible vision that elevates wellness programs from simple perks into part of a broader corporate mission that emphasizes employee health and success.”

To improve employee participation and create healthier employees who consider themselves valued members of the organization, McKeever and Edington argue that corporate and employee goals need to align under a vision of “shared values.”

“A clearly articulated and honored ‘shared values’ approach, in which management, shareholders and employees have a common vision that includes personally and corporately aligned goals, is the cornerstone of the true and sustainable ‘health’ of a company and its employees,” they write. “When leadership actions, corporate policies and work environment all communicate the value of the employee and their talents, individuals and companies not only survive but also thrive.”

Indeed, the SHRM article articulates the next step in the evolution of corporate wellness programs. As McKeever and Edington write, providing wellness programs isn’t enough to engage employees. What’s needed is a commitment from management to include the wellness of their workforce in their broader mission as a company.

About EHE International
Since 1913, EHE International has been the recognized leader in preventive medicine. Its clinical protocols are specifically designed for early detection of preventable disease and associated risk factors, supported by robust personal coaching and health management tools and resources. EHE International is the oldest and largest preventive medicine specialist and its clinically based educational and social engagement platforms are the preferred choice among America’s leading employers. For more information, visit www.eheintl.com.

About Dee Edington
Dee Edington, Ph.D., is the founder of the business consultancy Edington Associates and the author of Zero Trends: Health as a Serious Economic Strategy (Health Management Research Center, 2013). www.edingtonassociates.com

SOURCE EHE International