By Angela Nuñez

A provocative article from Inc. talks about why “beautiful” people might be more successful. I’m not going to tackle that can of worms, but I will go as far as saying that healthy people are more likely to be successful than those who are not as healthy. Health is often reflected in one’s outward appearance, so perhaps a healthy person could be considered a beautiful person in that way. Smokers, for example, age more quickly than non-smokers and tend to have a more lackluster skin tone than non-smokers. However, I’m not here to write about looks, but about health and how it relates to the workplace.

Health factors in as a major component of self-esteem, so a healthy employee is likely to feel more confident about himself than an employee whose health could be better; confidence leads to better decision-making, which leads to better outcomes. Implementing a workplace health and wellness program gives employees the chance to become empowered about their health. Ask most people if they want to be healthy, and the answer will be yes. Finding the time and energy to live healthfully can be a major hurdle to those wanting to improve their health, which is why workplace programs are so important. When employees have the chance to take charge of their health, they usually do so, and a healthy team equals a successful team.

Stress, obesity, heart disease, lung cancer, and other health problems can cause workers to struggle to concentrate and be productive; giving them the chance to be healthy gives them a better quality of life and gives your organization a better chance of success.

Do you feel that your health affects your work life? If so, how?