Making the Case for Wellness Programs.

Major advantages of healthful employees include -

• Lower Health Care Costs

• Decreased Injuries

• Reduced Absenteeism

• Increased Morale and Loyalty

• Higher Productivity

• Lowered Use of Healthcare Benefits

• Lowered Workers’ Compensation / Disability

• Positive Perception in Community

• Reduced Turnover

• Better recruitment for skilled employees

What’s NOT having a Wellness Program costing your company?  

Consider the health risk factors that are increasing chronic conditions for adults -

• 59 percent of adults are overweight or obese

• More than 60% of American adults do not exercise regularly

• More than 75% of adults don’t consume the minimum recommendations for fruits and vegetables

• Heart illness is the most common cause of death and the leading cause of death in smokers

• 26 percent of employees announced they were often or very often burned out or stressed by their work  

Healthcare Costs are Increasing -   Healthcare costs are at a record high of $1.7 trillion with no signs of holding steady let alone decreasing.  The typical cost of annual health care spending is over $5,000 per individuals and with dependents almost $10,000.  

Recent data shows that health care related expenses now cost North Carolina corporations thousands of dollars per employee, per year.

Most Diseases can be Avoided -   Although it sounds unbelievable, professionals 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 preventable, and that 2/3 of all preventable deaths are due to tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition.

Stress Levels are Increasing -   as company resources become less and businesses adopt leaner work practices, the effects of absenteeism and productivity lost have a greater impact.  

In a recent national poll, 78% of American Citizens described their jobs as stressful, and the majority felt that stress levels have become worse over the last 10 years.  Furthermore, high levels of organizational stress can negatively affect a corporation by increasing injuries, absenteeism, and medical costs while decreasing productivity.  

Simple solutions like stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in corporation decision-making can improve stress levels in the workplace.

What’s the Upfront Cost and Time Investment for a Wellness Program?

The cost depends on the type of Wellness Program implemented.  There are several options to promote employee health with advantages and disadvantages of each.  The program design depends on the objectives of the wellness program, the corporation resources, and the community resources available.  

Improving dietary practices, increasing physical activity levels, managing stress or addressing work life balance issues, and reducing/eliminating tobacco use, are main strategies for preventing many of the most common preventable chronic diseases.

The possibilities of how your corporation addresses these issues are endless and can range from increasing staff member awareness, which may include buying a few  pamphlets on a selection of topics, and measuring walking distances around your facility.

Other possibilities include establishing organizational support such as funding a fulltime occupational health professional or building an onsite fitness center.  

When well planned and based on your objectives, any of these programs can help you succeed.  Refer below to Wellness Program Design Options for more ideas.