Employer Wellness

Major benefits of healthy workers include:

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

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

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

• 59% of American adults are overweight or obese
• More than 60 percent of American citizens do not get regular exercise
• More than 75% of American adults do not get the minimum recommendations for fruits and vegetables
• Heart disease is the most common cause of death and the # 1 cause of death in smokers
• 26 percent of workers reported they were frequently or very frequently burned out or stressed by their work  

Healthcare expenditures are On the Rise:  Healthcare costs are at a record high of $1.7 trillion with no signs of holding steady, let alone going down.  The average cost of yearly health care spending is over $5,000 per person and including dependents almost $10,000.  Recent data shows that health care related expenditures now cost North Carolina corporations thousands of dollars per employee, per year.

Most Illnesses Can Be Avoided:  Although it sounds unbelievable, experts proclaim 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 nourishment.

Stress Levels are On the Rise:  As corporation resources become less and employers adopt cheaper work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have a greater impact.  In a current nationwide poll, 78% of Americans described their jobs as stressful, and most believe that stress levels have risen over The previous 10 years.  Furthermore, high levels of corporation stress are able to adversely affect a corporation by growing injuries, absenteeism, and healthcare costs while decreasing work rate.  Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in corporation decision-making are able to improve stress levels in the workplace.

What is the Initial Cost and Time Investment for a Corporate Wellness Program?

The cost depends on the type of Workplace Wellness Program implemented.  There are several options to promote employee health with pros and cons of each.  The program design depends on the goals/objectives of the wellness program, the organization resources, and the area resources available.  

Enhancing nutrition, increasing physical exercise levels, managing stress or addressing work life balance concerns, and lowering/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common preventable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your corporation addresses these concerns are endless and can range from increasing employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few handouts on a variety of topics, and measuring walking distances around your facility, to instituting corporation reinforcement such as funding a full-time occupational health professional or building an worksite fitness center.  

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