Health And Wellness In The WorkplaceHealth And Wellness In The Workplace

Major benefits of healthy workers include:

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

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

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

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

Medical Care expenditures are Increasing:  Medical Care costs are at a record high of $1.7 trillion with no signs of holding steady, let alone going down.  The average cost of annual medical care spending is over $5,000 per person and including dependents almost $10,000.  Recent data shows that medical care related expenditures now cost North Carolina employers thousands of dollars per employee, each year.

Most Illnesses Can Be Prevented:  Although it sounds unbelievable, experts state 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 Increasing:  As corporation resources dwindle and employers adopt leaner work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have a greater effect.  In a recent national poll, 78% of the population described their jobs as stressful, and the majority believe that stress levels have increased over The last ten years.  In addition, high levels of corporation stress can negatively affect a corporation by increasing injuries, absenteeism, and medical expenditures 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 Initial Cost and Time Investment for a Corporate Health Promotion Program?

The cost depends on the type of Employee 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 corporation resources, and the area resources available.  

Enhancing nutrition, expanding physical movement levels, managing stress or discussing work life balance concerns, and reducing/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common preventable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your company addresses these concerns are endless and can range from expanding employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few handouts on a variety of topics, and measuring walking distances around your facility, to adopting company support such as funding a full-time occupational health consultant or building an workplace fitness center.  

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