Health Wellness ProgramHealth and Wellness Programs and Wellness Program Consulting

Major benefits of healthy workers include:

• Decreased Medical Care costs
• Lowered Injuries
• Reduced Rates of Absenteeism
• Boosted Morale and Loyalty
• Increased Productivity
• Lowered Use of Health Care Benefits
• Lowered Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Image in Community
• Diminished Turnover
• Improved recruitment for able employees

What is NOT Having a Workplace Health Promotion Program Costing Your Business?  

Consider the health risk factors that are contributing to chronic diseases for adults:

• 59% of adults are overweight or obese
• Greater than 60% of American adults do not get regular exercise
• More than 75% of adults do not consume the minimum recommendations for fruits and vegetables
• Cardiovascular disease is the leading common cause of death and the leading cause of death in smokers
• 26 percent of staff members stated they were often or very often burned out or stressed by their work  

Healthcare expenses are Rising:  Healthcare costs are at a record high of $1.7 trillion with no signs of leveling out, let alone decreasing.  The average expense of yearly medical care spending is over $5,000 per person and with dependents almost $10,000.  Recent data shows that medical care related expenses now cost North Carolina organizations thousands of dollars per employee, each year.

Most Illnesses Can Be Avoided:  Although it sounds unrealistic, experts insist that avoidable illness makes up 60% – 70% of the entire burden of illness in the U.S..   In North Carolina, it is estimated that more than 53% of all deaths are avoidable, and that 2/3 of all avoidable deaths are due to tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor diet.

Stress Levels are On the Rise:  As business resources dwindle and organizations adopt less-costly work practices, the effects of absenteeism and productivity lost have a more powerful effect.  In a new nationwide poll, 78 percent of Americans described their jobs as stressful, and most felt that stress levels have increased over The previous decade.  In addition, high levels of business stress can negatively affect a business by increasing injuries, absenteeism, and health care costs while decreasing productivity.  Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in business decision-making can better stress levels in the workplace.

What is the Initial Cost and Time Investment for a Worksite Health Promotion Program?

The expenditure is dependent upon the type of Company Wellness Program implemented.  There are several options to promote employee health with advantages and disadvantages of each.  The program design is dependent upon the goals and objectives of the wellness program, the employer resources, and the neighborhood resources available.  

Enhancing dietary practices, expanding physical activity levels, managing stress or addressing work life balance problems, and reducing/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common avoidable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your company deals with these problems are endless and can range from expanding employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few handouts on a variety of topics, and quantifying walking distances around your facility, to instituting company support such as funding a full-time occupational health consultant or building an onsite fitness center.  

When well-planned and based on your goals and objectives, any of these programs have the potential to help you succeed.  Refer below to Corporate Wellness Program Design Options for additional ideas.