Posted by Employee Wellness | Posted in Employee Wellness Survey | Posted on 29-12-2008
Studies suggest that for every $1 invested in Employee Health Promotion Programs, a corporation saves $3 to $5 in health and safety costs. Corporations that invest in Employee Health Promotion Programs reap the financial rewards through savings on medical care costs, disability pay, absenteeism, turnover and safety problems.
worksites have already proven to be a great place to promote wellness. After all, people spend more time at work than doing anything else. Eighty-two percent of the U.S. population is linked in some way to a worksite. Therefore, providing Employee Health Promotion Programs is a great way to reach a substantial number of people in your area.
Employee Health Promotion Programs in Small Businesses
Unlike large businesses, small businesses often lack the resources to provide Employee Health Promotion Programs to their staff members. However, they may be the most in need of such services. Small businesses are the hardest hit by health insurance costs and have the highest rates of substance abuse. Staff Member well-being and physical or mental illness can also be more disruptive in a small business environment. Employee Health Promotion Programs in small businesses also makes sense because small firms employ the majority of working citizens.
Regardless of the size of a business, Employee Health Promotion Programs can pay. Statistically, even if there are only 100 people in a corporation:
• 60 sit all day to do their work
• 50 don’t wear their safety belts regularly
• 50 feel they’re under moderate stress
• 35 are overweight by 20% or more
• 30 smoke
• 27 have cardiovascular disease
• 25 or more have high cholesterol (over 200 mg/dl)
• 10 are heavy drinkers
• 10 have high blood pressure
• 5 have diagnosed diabetes and another 5 have undiagnosed diabetes
• 7 use marijuana
• 1 uses cocaine
Bottom Line Employee Health Promotion Program Benefits
At least one quarter of the medical care costs incurred by working adults can be attributed to modifiable health risks (e.g., diet, exercise, tobacco use, etc.) Fortunately, there is a way to hold back the trend. Growing research links an individual’s lifestyle behaviors to their health risk.
The good news is Employee Health Promotion Programs can:
• Decrease medical care costs
• Decrease workers’ compensation claims
• Decrease staff member absenteeism
• Increase worker productivity
• Improve staff member morale
The bottom line is that Employee Health Promotion Programs can benefit any size business — small or large.
