Wellness programs are a way for the company to invest in their own human resources. This investment can increase employee loyalty, as well as help with the company’s bottom line. Employers who invest in wellness realize a return ranging from $3-$7 per every invested dollar, in the form of health care savings and increased productivity.
Some health care providers are willing to cut medical insurance rates by 3% for companies that have organized wellness programs. Health insurance carriers are recognizing the value of the workplace wellness programs. By creating a healthy and satisfied work force, the company is able to reduce costs.
Wellness programs should be voluntary and confidential encouraging people to participate in programs to contribute to their health and supporting employees in making healthy lifestyle changes. These programs should be confidential allowing each employee access to their own results. The company only receives a corporate health risk assessment. This protects the names of the employees but offers a profile of the top risks the company faces as a whole.
Our wellness program focuses on lifestyle (not a one time assessment) it is how we live that leads to disease. In America we continue to eat too much, leading to an epidemic of obesity, smoking is still a huge health concern not mention lost productivity in the workplace. The answer to these problems is simple “Change our lifestyle habits”
Building wellness into the culture of the workplace will become more common in the very near future, for small companies as well as the corporate giants of industry.