FedEx has identified the role that the right of health policy plays in employee productivity. When a group of adults from diverse backgrounds is brought together by the management to work for the general good of a given firm, the firm should avoid negative consequences of failing to involve members of the staff to make a contribution to the firms’ decision making especially if the issue at hand directly affect them.
The diversity in background, culture, religion, among others, goes a long way in determining the level of one’s personality. There are those who do not give much attention to their health or that of their families, but there are others whose health comes first before any other thing. These two diverse groups would, therefore, require different health plans. When the firm limits them to one conventional service provider, then it becomes hard to satisfy both groups.
When the firm decided to introduce the provision of the several health care plans for their employees, the result was that every individual would choose freely the plan to subscribe to. This instilled in them an increased sense of self-worth, respect as well as a feeling of belonging. Consequently, the level of productivity went high.
From the case study, benefits increased for the firm, this is because employees subscribed to cheaper plans than the company had compelled them to enroll earlier. With a cheaper plan, the firms were remitting less in tax and, thus, saving a lot more than they previously did.
Health care provision is the greatest form of employee motivation that a firm can ever invest in. People can only increase productivity when they are in good health. Health coverage for employees also takes care of the situation when an accident takes place at the place of work. Employees work with increased zeal and passion for the job that they do while well aware that incase of an accident then their employer has them covered. Additionally, some health care policy providers offer several incentives. These incentives vary and offer a wide variety of benefits to clients who do not make a claim for a certain period of time. This makes employees exercise caution while carrying out their daily activities, thereby, minimising instances of accidents. This makes both the firm and the employee benefit in the long run.
Disease management programs would vary depending on the specifications of the firm. FedEx, for example, has most of its employees lifting boxes most of the time. It, therefore, ensures that it has a wellness centre to keep their employees physically fit. Other companies with the different situation would have different programs. A manufacturing firm would enroll its employees on different programs such as firefighting skills. These programs help reduce instances of injuries, with few cases of injury in the firm very little claims get forwarded. The company saves a lot of money through such preventative measures. An employee who lifts very heavy cartons would easily break aback if not physically preconditioned, and with a broken back, the employee becomes less productive and would most definitely make a claim to his/her policy. Chances of fires breaking out in manufacturing firms are normally very high. Skills on how to fight fire outbreak or escape safely from fire accidents prevent fire accidents at the workplace and, hence, the number of claims or court cases surrounding fire accidents.
Training programs make employees exercise caution in their health. Training helps employees avoid habits and activities that people innocently pick up without knowing the effects that these would have on their health in the long term. Having training programs within the firm that enlighten them on some of these and their possible consequences would encourage them to exercise caution and, in this way, the firm lengthens the lives of its workforce and, concurrently, reducing the number of claims it would have otherwise paid.
A firm that has a nursing hotline just like FedEx minimises its spending rate. Accidents at the place of work require urgent attention. With this urgent attention, a bad situation is prevented from degenerating into a worse one. Some inconsequential injuries that would lead to fainting or just mere strains receive immediate first aid attention, and this discourages the individuals from taking sick leaves and going to the hospital. Admission into a hospital would mean that the cover gets into play and the firm is made to begin paying bills.
In retrospect, health is the number one determinant of the level of productivity in every firm. A firm that takes care of its employees’ health, just like FedEx is likely to receive positive growth. Health services provision is a good strategy to motivate employees and helps the firm to retain its current employees as well as attract other, more competent staff. Additionally, the fewer claims that the firm would be required to pay to reflect positively in the firm’s books of account, and this is normally the overriding aim of any investor.