The Case for Worksite Wellness

Major advantages of healthy employees include:

• Decreased Medical Care expenditures
• Reduced Injuries
• Reduced Absenteeism
• Boosted Morale and Loyalty
• Higher Productivity
• Reduced Use of Medical Care Benefits
• Reduced Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Image in Community
• Reduced Turnover
• Improved recruitment for skilled employees

What is NOT Having a Worksite Wellness Costing Your Organization?

Let us look at the health risk factors that are exacerbating chronic diseases for adults:

• 59 percent of American citizens are overweight or obese
• Greater than 60 percent of American citizens do not exercise regularly
• Greater than 75 percent of American citizens do not consume the minimum recommendations for fruits and vegetables
• Cardiovascular disease is the leading common cause of death and the primary cause of death in smokers
• 26 percent of employees stated they were often or very often burned out or stressed by their occupation

Medical Care expenditures are Increasing: Medical Care expenditures are at a record figure of $1.7 trillion with no signs of leveling out, let alone going down. The average cost of annual healthcare spending is over $5,000 per person and with dependents almost $10,000. Recent data shows that healthcare expenditures now cost North Carolina corporations thousands of dollars per employee, each year. Most Illnesses Can Be Avoided: Although it sounds unbelievable, experts state that preventable 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 preventable, and that 2/3 of all preventable deaths are due to tobacco use, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet. Stress Levels are On the Rise: As organization resources diminish and corporations adopt leaner work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have a more powerful influence. In a current national poll, 78 percent of the population described their jobs as stressful, and the majority felt that stress levels have risen over The last decade. Moreover, high levels of organization stress can adversely affect a organization by increasing injuries, absenteeism, and medical expenditures while decreasing work rate. Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in organization decision-making can improve stress levels in the workplace.

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

The expense depends on the type of Worksite Wellness implemented. There are several options to promote employee health with pros and cons of each. The program design depends on the goals and objectives of the wellness program, the organization resources, and the community resources available. Improving dietary practices, building physical activity levels, managing stress or approaching work life balance problems, and reducing/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common preventable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your organization deals with these problems are endless and can range from building employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few handouts on a variety of topics, and quantifying walking distances around your facility, to adopting organization support such as funding a full-time occupational health professional or building an worksite fitness center. When well-planned and based on your goals and objectives, any of these programs can help you succeed. Refer below to Worksite Wellness Design Options for additional ideas.