Corporate Wellness Blog

Major benefits of healthy employees include:

• Lower Healthcare costs
• Diminished Injuries
• Reduced Absenteeism
• Boosted Morale and Loyalty
• Higher Productivity
• Lowered Use of Health Care Benefits
• Lowered Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Image in Community
• Diminished Turnover
• Better recruitment for able employees

What is NOT Having a Company Wellness Program Costing Your Corporation?  

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

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

Healthcare expenses are Growing:  Healthcare expenditures are at a record high of $1.7 trillion with no signs of holding steady, let alone decreasing.  The average cost of annual medical spending is over $5,000 per person and with dependents almost $10,000.  Recent data shows that medical related expenses now cost North Carolina companies thousands of dollars per employee, per year.

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

Stress Levels are Increasing:  As corporation resources dwindle and corporations adopt less-costly work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have an increased influence.  In a new national poll, 78 percent of American citizens described their jobs as stressful, and most felt that stress levels have become worse over The previous ten years.  Furthermore, high levels of corporation stress can adversely affect a corporation by growing injuries, absenteeism, and medical costs while decreasing productivity.  Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in corporation decision-making can better stress levels in the workplace.

What is the Upfront Cost and Time Investment for a Workplace Health Promotion Program?

The cost is dependent upon the type of Workplace Health Promotion Program implemented.  There are several options to promote employee health with advantages and disadvantages of each.  The program design is dependent upon the objectives of the wellness program, the company resources, and the area resources available.  

Enhancing nutrition, increasing physical activity levels, managing stress or discussing work life balance problems, and lowering/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common avoidable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your business addresses these problems are endless and can range from increasing employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few brochures on a variety of topics, and measuring walking distances around your facility, to establishing business backing such as funding a full-time occupational health consultant or building an worksite fitness center.  

When well-planned and based on your goals/objectives, any of these programs are able to help you succeed.  Refer below to Employee Wellness Program Design Options for additional ideas.