Posted by Employee Wellness | Posted in Employee Wellness Survey | Posted on 17-12-2008
Introduction to Employee Health Promotion Programs
Risky health behaviors by staff members cost a company. Changing those behaviors can save the employer money and increase the staff member’s productivity.
Because work gives an staff member a stable environment and support system, Employee Health Promotion Programs can have a great impact on decreasing high-risk behaviors. This impact results in lower health claims cost, less absenteeism, and less short-term disability.
Employee Health Promotion Programs may include:
Awareness Rasing Activities: Health and wellness newsletters, health topics covered in payroll stuffers, healthy emails.
Health Risk Assessment: Employee health screenings, health and wellness fairs, health rist assessments.
Educational Programs: Lunch and Learn wellness seminars, guest speakers at staff meetings.
Skill Building: Healthy cooking demostrations, activity challenges, CPR instruction opportunites, stress management classes, weight management classes.
Interventions: Massage, tobacco cessation, and skills to help you get the most out of your doctor visit.
Physical environment: Healthy items in the vending machines and cafeterias, clean air practices, ergonomics, bike racks, flex time, welllit stairways.
Assessment: Staff Member needs assessment, baseline Employee Health Promotion Program assessment measures, ongoing Employee Health Promotion Program assessment of overall effectiveness.
Why Make available Employee Health Promotion Programs
The typical employer spends about $8,000 a year on an employee’s medical care. This includes health insurance, disability and worker’s compensation. As these costs climb, health insurance is expected to rise at least 10% per year.
A 1999 study showed that businesses using Employee Health Promotion Programs had a ROI from $1.49 – $13 in benefits per dollar spent. The amount depended on the nature of the Employee Health Promotion Programs used. (S. Aldana, American Journal of Wellness, 2001; 15:296-320)
One study showed that a “stop smoking” element to Employee Health Promotion Programs may save between $404 -$40,829 per employee, depending on the age and sex of the staff member.
The Employee Health Promotion Programs at Traveler’s Company included a self-care book, a newsletter, single-topic brochures, and videotapes. The Employee Health Promotion Programs saved the company $7.8 million in employee benefi t costs, decreased doctor visits, and it reduced absenteeism by 1.2 days per staff member per year. The estimated Employee Health Promotion Programs ROI was $3.40 per dollar spent.
In 1998, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) reported a study of 46,026 staff members from six large employers for three years. Staff Members with an inactive lifestyle had 10% higher costs; staff members with depression had 70% higher costs.
Benefits of Employee Health Promotion Programs
Increased Productivity – The Canada Life Assurance Company realized a 4% rise in productivity after beginning an employee fitness program.
Increased Job Satisfaction – According to employee opinion surveys conducted by the Silverstone Group about thier Employee Health Promotion Programs, staff members’ morale increased, which helped support a more creative work environment.
Enhanced Recruitment & Retention – In the midst of a tight labor market, Employee Health Promotion Programs could be a important tool to draw new recruits.
Decreased Absenteeism – Canada Life Assurance Company’s absenteeism dropped 42% among staff members in the Employee Health Promotion Programs.
Decreased Workers Comp & Disability – In one year, Boeing Company’s number of back injuries decreased by 34%. Six million dollars was saved by tracking injuries as they occurred.
Managed Health Care Costs – Golden, Colorado Adolf Coors Company’s Employee Health Promotion Programs returned $6.19 for every dollar spent.
