Employee Safety and Health Programs: Not Just Lip Service

In this day and age, employees often expect their employers to offer high-quality benefits. In fact, this is so important that many employees say they’d turn down a job offer if the benefits package didn’t include accommodations, like those pertaining to their health and well-being. Therefore, companies that fail to adjust to the concerns and challenges of today’s talent pool may struggle to thrive in the long term. 

As an organizational leader, your company’s future depends on making wise investments in programs that not only boost talent acquisition but also support the health of your workforce. It’s crucial to ask yourself how does a well-implemented employee health and safety program affect employee retention? What does a well-implemented program look like? Below, we’ll dive into all that and more so you’re equipped with the insight to stay competitive in this evolving market.

What Are Safety and Health Programs? 

In 2023, there were almost 2.6 million nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries in the private industry. It was also reported that 1.5 per 100 full-time employees were involved in work injury cases in which they had to spend time away from work, were on a job restriction, or were transferred to a different department. 

Although these numbers are better than the years before, there’s still much more to do—and that’s where safety and health programs come in. These initiatives are designed to protect employees from mental and physical risks and hazards at the workplace. Their goal is also to prevent the suffering and financial hardships that these events may cause for workers, their families, and employers. 

Traditionally, these programs had a reactive response, meaning company leaders likely wouldn’t address issues until after an employee became ill or injured. At that point, they’d usually respond by adding a new regulation and/or having an external inspector come in to identify and fix a problem. 

Now, the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) recommends taking a proactive approach, as it’s much more effective to identify and fix hazards before anyone gets hurt. 

While these programs will look different depending on the industry, role, and setting, their primary aim is to make employees feel safe, valued, and protected. Employers are realizing that they play a crucial role in employee retention efforts, too. 

What Do Workplace Health and Safety Programs Look Like?

Many leaders are unsure what belongs in a safety and health program, but it’s okay to start with the basics. Even OSHA recommends that companies begin with simple goals and grow from there. 

Some examples of what a safety and health program may include at a brick-and-mortar location are: 

• Ongoing safety checks of office equipment
• Ensuring office buildings are safe in the event of natural hazards, such as floods and high winds
• Regularly monitoring electrical fittings
• Offering onsite mental health therapists
• Performing regular fire drills and providing fire safety equipment
• Providing clean sanitation facilities
• Evaluating food safety procedures, if there is food served onsite 

Know the Needs of Your Workforce 

Keep in mind that you may need to include other features depending on the work setting and different job functions. This is why it’s vital to assess your workforce’s actual needs. 

For instance, hospitals are considered one of the most hazardous places to work, with potential hazards like needles, lifting patients, and possible interactions with combative visitors. The workplace injuries that take place in hospitals also tend to be more costly. Leaders have to worry about: 

• Workers compensation claims
• Turnover costs if an injured employee quits 
• Overtime expenses associated with injured employees missing work 
• Reduced morale from physical fatigue
• Decreased productivity 
• Caregiver stress that may negatively affect patient care (e.g., increasing the risk of patient infections and medication errors) 

The construction industry is also incredibly hazardous, as employees can fall from rooftops, get struck by heavy equipment, or be exposed to asbestos. Therefore, you’ll want to incorporate programs that help mitigate these unique challenges at your company. 

Understanding the risks that are present in your workplace first will allow you to craft the most effective safety and health program. Whether your physical location is a power plant or an office, every location and industry has its own unique challenges that will affect how employees work and by extension, how they need to be protected by their employer.

Do Safety and Health Programs Apply to Remote Work, Too? 

Even if some or all of your employees work remotely, employers are still obligated to identify potential injuries and illnesses that could happen. 

According to OSHA, a home-based injury or illness is considered work-related if:

• It happens while the employee is performing work for compensation in their home AND
• It’s directly related to the performance of work and not their general home environment or setting 

An example of a work-related case in an at-home setting would be: the employee drops a box of work documents that injures their foot. As an employer, you’re responsible for any hazards brought on by work processes, materials, or equipment that you provide or are required to be used in that employee’s home. 

The Elements of a Well-Implemented Safety and Health Program  

Putting together just any program is one thing, but developing a well-implemented safety and health program that positively affects employee retention is another. So, how does one go about that? 

If you want a successful program that employees actually participate in, try the following.

1. Get Leadership Involved 

Supervisors, managers, directors, owners, and others must communicate their commitment to protecting workers. They should also visibly serve as a health and safety example themselves. 

It’s not uncommon for leadership to underestimate how important a health and safety program truly is to their staff. Interestingly, a 2023 Health and Safety Leadership survey revealed that only 39% of employers believed prospective employees would ask about their health and safety programs. Yet, the results showed that approximately 73% of employees want to know about their safety initiatives before accepting an employment offer. 

Employers further misjudged their importance when asked about the benefits of health and safety initiatives to the business. Employers ranked “Makes me a more attractive employer” last on the list, but it was ranked at the top of the list for employees. 

This shows that employees aren’t just there to earn a paycheck. They genuinely want and expect to feel protected at work, and failing to do this could negatively impact employee retention. 

2. Encourage Employee Participation

A workplace health and safety program is only beneficial when your employees partake. This can be done by making the resources readily available to your staff. Assess what barriers to participation exist. Some common ones might be: 

• Time limitations
• Insufficient incentives
• Disinterest in the program(s) offered 
• Poor marketing
• Inconvenient location

Motivate employees to report injuries, close calls, and potential hazards. Show appreciation and acknowledge their participation, provide positive feedback to program participants, and address their concerns. 

3. Assess the Safety and Health Program Regularly

A health and safety program isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it type of thing. It’s imperative to create and track goals and then make adjustments accordingly. Some indicators to track might be: 

• Number of workers participating in program activities
• Number of hazards reported
• Length of time taken to respond to employee reports 
• Worker compensation rates, cost, claim counts, and more 

How Safety and Health Programs Affect Employee Retention

Now, let’s address the question at hand: How does a well-implemented safety and health program affect employee retention? After all, losing employees is expensive, as the cost of replacing them can range from one-half to two times the employee’s annual salary. High turnover can lead to customer service errors, reduce productivity, decrease morale, and shake the company culture. A solid safety and health program can help with that, though. 

Decrease Workplace Stress

Research shows that occupational stress, whether physical, psychological, or social, increases the risk of actual turnover. 

One study found that top-level management’s commitment to positive and supportive safety attitudes regarding their employee’s safety could reduce accidents. The authors also shared that “if stress is experienced in the workplace, it is life-threatening to the individual” and may cause employees to leave the company. 

A well-implemented safety and health program has the active support of leaders and gives employees a sense of security, therefore mitigating stress and reducing turnover. 

Increase Employee Loyalty

As previously mentioned, employees don’t stick around just for the money. They stay where they feel valued by their employer, and acknowledging their safety concerns shows that value. SRHM shared that companies should ask their workforce what they need, and make sure to treat them as people with career goals to achieve—not just workers with job functions to fulfill—if they hope to boost employee loyalty. 

One survey even found that almost 50% of employees who regularly participated in health and wellness programs were very likely to recommend their employer as a place to work. Therefore, a good safety and health program won’t just help you keep your current employees – it’ll help you attract new ones. 

Boost Job Satisfaction

If your employees are constantly worried that they’ll be injured at work, and it doesn’t seem like you’re trying to make any changes, they’ll likely seek other options. As one study found, “the higher the employee’s perceived occupational health risks, the lower their job satisfaction.” 

The authors further explained that employees who felt like their employer cared about their safety and health were more likely to deal with their perceived occupational health risks, leading to higher job satisfaction. Having a well-implemented health and safety program, even in more hazardous environments, could attract and retain employees if you’re making an effort to meet their safety needs. 

How Safety and Health Programs Benefit Employers

In addition to improving employee retention, these programs come with some perks for employers. 

Decreased Health Insurance Costs 

Employer health insurance premiums for families increased by 7% in 2024, reaching an average of $25,572 annually. Employers contribute about $19,276 of that amount, and employees handle the remaining $6,296. Due to the increased prevalence of chronic conditions and our aging population, premiums are not expected to go down anytime soon, so employers must find ways to offset these expenses. 

Fortunately, health programs are one way to improve the health of your workforce. Cigarette smoking, for example, is linked to cardiovascular disease and premature death among employees. Research shows that a smoking cessation benefit alone can enhance employee health, boost productivity, and decrease healthcare costs. 

Presenteeism and Absenteeism 

Did you know that disengaged employees cost their organizations the equivalent of 18% of their yearly salary? If your employees often call off work or display signs of presenteeism due to work-related illnesses, this is negatively affecting your bottom line. 

One study discovered that a positive work environment (which includes a safe one) promotes employee performance and commitment within the company. Another study noted that well-being is closely correlated with increased productivity and a lower risk of injury and disease. A well-designed safety and health program allows employees to focus on matters that add value instead of worrying about unforeseen circumstances and potential hazards. 

Boosts Brand Reputation 

Your employees represent your brand values. Therefore, if several staff members are experiencing work-related injuries and thus provide poor customer service, people may assume your brand delivers subpar goods and services or engages in negative business practices. This can affect your ability to make sales and, ultimately, grow the business. 

Employee behavior plays a crucial role in brand building and influences a brand’s personality. If your organization prioritizes employee safety, potential customers and vendors will be attracted to it. 

Prevent Litigation and Compliance Issues

Once the OSH Act of 1970 passed, Congress developed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure that employees work in safe conditions. OSHA has created guidelines for workplace safety, and employers who fail to comply risk being penalized.  

On top of that, employees may also try suing their employer. Organizations could spend around $75,000 just to work with an employment attorney to settle one claim, so imagine the effect of several cases hitting your desk. 

A well-established safety and health program can help employers stay on track and avoid these often-preventable circumstances. 

Safety and Health Programs Help with Employee Retention

At this point, you can now answer the question how does a well-implemented safety and health program affect employee retention?

It’s clear that workplace initiatives can have a powerful impact, so it’s worth assessing how they can fit into your organization. Many leaders worry about the upfront costs of safety and health programs, which is understandable. Yet, their ability to attract and retain talent, improve your brand presence, and boost your bottom line can’t be ignored.