Employee Wellness Newsletter : The Case for Corporate Health Promotion Programs

Major advantages of healthy workers include:

• Reduced Medical Care expenditures
• Diminished Injuries
• Lowered Rates of Absenteeism
• Increased Morale and Loyalty
• Increased Productivity
• Reduced Use of Medical Care Benefits
• Diminished Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Image in Community
• Reduced Turnover
• Better recruitment for competent staff members

What is NOT Having a Worksite Health Promotion Program Costing Your Company?  

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

• 59 percent of adults are overweight or obese
• More than 60 percent of Americans do not exercise regularly
• More than 75 percent of American citizens do not consume 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 percent of workers reported they were often or very often burned out or stressed by their occupation  

Health Care expenses are Increasing:  Health Care expenditures are at a record level of $1.7 trillion with no signs of leveling out, let alone decreasing.  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 expenses now cost North Carolina businesses thousands of dollars per employee, each year.

Most Illnesses Can Be Prevented:  Although it sounds unrealistic, experts suggest 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, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor nourishment.

Stress Levels are Rising:  As corporation resources dwindle and employers adopt less-costly work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have an increased influence.  In a new nationwide poll, 78% of American citizens described their jobs as stressful, and most felt that stress levels have worsened over The previous decade.  In addition, high levels of corporation stress have the potential to negatively affect a corporation by rising injuries, absenteeism, and health care expenditures while decreasing productivity.  Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in corporation decision-making have the potential to better stress levels in the workplace.

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

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

Improving nutrition, building physical activity levels, managing stress or approaching 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 building employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few brochures on a variety of topics, and calculating walking distances around your facility, to establishing corporation reinforcement such as funding a full-time occupational health consultant or building an onsite fitness center.  

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