Why Implement a Corporate Wellness Program?
3 Reasons to Consider Implementing a Corporate Wellness Program
1. Health care cost will continue to rise.
Over $1 trillion dollars are spent annually in the U.S. alone on health care costs. This greatly exceeds the expenditures of any other country. The average American’s health care cost is over $3,000 per year and totals approximately $225,000 in a lifetime. Most of these costs are directly associated with lifestyle habits. Organizations
willing to take action towards reducing these cost will be greatly
rewarded in countless ways including reduction of health care costs,
increased productivity and reduced turnover rates.
2. Most Illnesses Can Be Avoided
The leading causes of illness are largely preventable. Experts suggest preventable illnesses account for nearly 70% of the illnesses and associated health care costs annually. Preventable
factors including: Tobacco use, high-stress levels, poor sleeping
habits, sedentary lifestyles and poor nutritional habits are largely to
blame for these illnesses. Implementing a strong
fitness & wellness program sends a message that the organizations
cares about the mounting health care costs of the organizations but
more importantly that the organization cares about the health and
well-being its employees.
3. Longer Work Week
The workweek is expanding. The average workweek is now 47 hours, resulting in an increase of 164 hours per year from 20 years ago. The increased use of laptops, cell phones and email has all but erased personal boundaries. The
reality of this situation is that workers are suffering from
dangerously elevated stress levels; inadequate time spent sleeping and
disrupted eating schedules.
Ask
yourself this question: When is the last time during the work week you
felt comfortable taking the time to make a great breakfast, enjoying a
relaxing lunch and spending time with friends and family at dinner all
in the same day?
The fact that we rush through our lives stressed, tired and hungry is not just sad it’s dangerous. Implementing
an institutional culture of lifestyle improvement can go a long way in
improving the lives of your employees and the bottom line of you
company.
Benefits to a corporate wellness program
1. Health Care Cost Reduction:
A reduction in health care costs is often considered the most visible benefit to a corporate wellness program. The need to reduce health care costs often lead organizations to implement wellness programs.
2. Improved Morale:
Organizations often see and feel an elevated level of energy as a result of implementing a wellness program. The
ultimate goal of any organization committed to the success of their
wellness program is the improvement of the attitudes and actions of its
employees.
3. Increased Recruitment Potential:
Employee talent is crucial to the success of any organization. Companies compete for the best talent available and look for ways to lure potential employees to their organization. A successful wellness program can easily be marketed as an added benefit to entice talented prospects.
4. Reduced Turnover Rate:
Replacing employees can cost the organization almost as much as keeping them healthy. Purchasing
emplacement ads, time spent reading applications, checking references,
interviewing and training new employees can be a serious financial
burden. Many companies seeking innovative ways to retain employees have turned to fitness & wellness programs to get the job done.
5. Reduced Absenteeism: