Employers must begin to see employee health as a strategic investment—not an expense—if they are to boost productivity and long-term business success. That was the message from Dr. Stephen King, Chair of the National Insurance Corporation’s (NIC) Committee on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), during the launch of a major wellness initiative targeting workplaces across Saint Lucia.
Speaking at the opening of the NIC’s two-day program, Dr. King underscored the urgent need to embed health and wellness into organizational culture. “This is a launch of a program to build the capacity of workplaces to implement health programs for the health of their staff,” he stated. “Our argument to businesses is that healthy people are productive people, which is good for business. So in other words, it is an investment.”
The initiative is designed to support both private and public sector entities by equipping them with tools to combat rising rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. These noncommunicable diseases remain the leading cause of death in Saint Lucia, responsible for 82% of mortality, according to Dr. King.
However, the implications go beyond health. “NCDs not only kill our people—they diminish quality of life and productivity for years before death,” he warned. Employees grappling with chronic illness tend to take more sick days, experience reduced performance, and exit the workforce early—trends that place a growing strain on businesses and the national economy.
“The big thing is productivity,” Dr. King explained. “And underpinning that is the mental and physical health of our people. We want businesses to inspire their people rather than burn them out. We want workplaces to reduce stress, not increase it.”
He called on employers and HR departments to implement proactive strategies promoting holistic health. These include nutritional education, the promotion of intermittent fasting, exercise regimens, and mindfulness practices to manage stress.
“We expect every HR department, every business owner, to implement strategies that teach people how they should eat, how they should exercise, and how they can use meditation to manage stress,” he said.
Dr. King concluded by highlighting the workplace as a powerful environment for transformation. “We see the workplace as a great place to foster lifestyle changes that improve health and wellbeing. The benefit to businesses is clear—a thriving, healthy workforce leads to a thriving enterprise.”
