Employee Health: The Key To Corporate Success

A thriving workplace doesn’t begin with strategy or technology, it begins with people. Forward-thinking businesses are increasingly realising that employee health is not just a “nice to have”. It’s a strategic investment that drives productivity, reduces absenteeism, and supports overall business growth. At Ford Health, we’ve seen first-hand how complete corporate health programs can empower busy professionals to perform at their best.

Let’s unpack why creating healthier workplaces makes such good business sense, and what you, as an employer, can do to make it happen.

A healthy team is a productive team. While many leaders acknowledge this, few understand just how much is at stake when employee wellbeing is neglected.

According to research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, workers in high-stress environments reported productivity losses of up to $75,000 per employee annually, with stress contributing to significant levels of reduced productivity across mining sites in Australia. The study found that employees who were frequently stressed at work were up to 19% less productive than those with lower stress levels.

When businesses ignore mental or physical health, they don’t just face higher absenteeism – they face poor presenteeism. In other words, employees are at work physically, but too fatigued or distressed to function effectively. That silent drag on performance costs companies far more than a few sick days ever could. A study examining psychological distress in the mining industry for example  costs the sector over $150 million per year – almost 9% of its pre-tax operating profit (Street et al., 2018).

Workplaces are a microcosm of the population and stressed out workers bring with them the full spectrum of health risks. Some common health issues include:

• Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders
• Musculoskeletal issues from poor posture, repetitive tasks, or long hours at desks
• Cardiovascular risks, particularly in sedentary office-based roles
• Poor nutrition and hydration during work hours
• Substance use or dependence, including tobacco or alcohol

Employees under chronic stress are also more likely to engage in unhealthy coping behaviours. This ranges from skipping meals and sleep, to using alcohol or avoiding exercise altogether.

A healthy workplace doesn’t just prevent illness. A good work environment should actively promote physical, psychological, and social wellbeing.

Psychologically

A mentally healthy workplace fosters:

• Open conversations about positive mental health
• Accessible employee assistance programs
• Reasonable workloads and clear role expectations
• Supportive leadership and fair conflict resolution

A mentally healthy workplace reduces stigma, promotes help-seeking behaviour, and creates resilience among teams. Importantly, it also reduces the risk of burnout, which can otherwise lead to high turnover and low morale.

Physically

The physical environment also matters:

• Ergonomic workstations reduce repetitive strain injuries
• Breaks and movement during long shifts improve energy and posture
• Access to healthy food options and hydration stations
• Clean, well-lit, safe facilities with air flow

When employers take occupational health seriously, the results can be seen in everything from more productive staff, fewer compensation claims and improved employee satisfaction.

Creating a safe and healthy workplace is as much about reducing risks as it is embedding wellbeing into the culture.

5 Keys to Healthy Workplaces

Here’s how your business can foster a healthier workforce:

Businesses that invest in health and wellbeing often experience a range of benefits, including: 

• Improved productivity
• Lower absenteeism and presenteeism
• Better staff retention
• Stronger workplace culture
• Reduced compensation and injury costs
• Enhanced company reputation

At Ford Health, we believe that looking after your people simply makes good business sense. Our Complete Wellbeing Programs are designed to empower organisations to thrive through tailored health advice, executive health programs, and team health assessments to deliver a comprehensive workplace health strategy.

The 2018 study highlights a powerful insight: when individuals begin to manage stress effectively, they experience improvements across broader health behaviours. These can include better physical activity patterns, improved mood, and reductions in negative coping behaviours like heavy drinking and drug use. In other words, the benefits of targeted stress management go well beyond the immediate problem. They trigger a chain reaction of positive wellbeing outcomes.

This insight was echoed more recently in the 2023 Workplace Wellbeing Index Australia by Gallagher, which found that Aussie organisations implementing integrated wellbeing strategies saw meaningful gains not only in mental health, but also in physical health behaviours like sleep and exercise. The report emphasised that tailored, human-centred programs (not one-size-fits-all perks) were key to improving employee engagement, reducing absenteeism, and lifting productivity.

Something we can take away from both studies is the fact that workplace health initiatives can’t just cater to the already engaged. They must reach those under strain, who often aren’t seeking help but would benefit the most. Evidence shows that if you truly want to move the needle on performance, your strategy must go beyond morning fruit bowls and fitness challenges. It requires a tailored, evidence-based approach that meets people where they are and brings them forward.

Ford Health‘s Complete Wellbeing Programs are built on this principle: supporting the real, human experience of delivering corporate health initiatives that foster a collective culture of proactive wellbeing.

Investing in your team’s health and wellbeing is no longer optional, it’s a competitive advantage. The most successful businesses are those that view employee health not as an HR issue, but as a strategic driver of performance.

At Ford Health, we’re proud to help Australian businesses create mentally healthy, resilient, and productive teams through our complete suite of workplace health programs.

Looking to improve your team’s health, performance, and retention?
Explore our complete workplace health and wellbeing solutions or get in touch with our Ford Health team to start building a healthier workplace today.