Many companies are finding that corporate wellness programs are an essential component in their business plan.
Healthy employees affect the bottom line through:
- Reduced absenteeism
- More productivity and energy
- Lower health care costs
- Higher job satisfaction and retention
Who Is Using Wellness Programs and Why?
- According to a Small Business Administration survey, more than 80% of businesses with 50 or more employees have adopted some form of health/wellness program. The most popular types include weight reduction/exercise, stress management and smoking cessation.
- As the amount of employees that are at high-risk for health problems increases, wellness programs bring welcome benefits.
- 50% of all medical costs can be attributed to illness that can be prevented and 70% of illnesses are due to lifestyle-related causes. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol, inactivity, obesity and high blood pressure are modifiable coronary artery disease risk factors. – The American Heart Association
It’s All in the Numbers
Studies by the University of Michigan and Johnson & Johnson show that employers can save:
- $1,110 a year for every employee who quits smoking
- $269 a year for every employee who progresses from couch potato to fitness enthusiast
- $1,200 a year on employees who reduce their cholesterol levels from 240 milligrams to 190 milligrams
- $177 a year for every employee who goes from obesity (more than 30 pounds overweight) to a healthy weight