Major advantages of healthy workers include:
• Decreased Health Care costs
• Reduced Injuries
• Reduced Rates of Absenteeism
• Increased Morale and Loyalty
• Increased Productivity
• Reduced Use of Health Care Benefits
• Reduced Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Image in Community
• Reduced Turnover
• Better recruitment for able workers
What is NOT Having a Company Wellness Costing Your Business?
Let us look at the health risk factors that are contributing to chronic diseases for adults:
• 59% of American citizens are overweight or obese
• Greater than 60% of American adults do not get regular exercise
• Greater than 75% of American adults 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% of workers reported they were often or very often burned out or stressed by their occupation
Health Care costs are Rising: Health Care costs are at a record level of $1.7 trillion with no signs of holding steady, let alone going down. The average cost of yearly medical care spending is over $5,000 per person and with dependents almost $10,000. Recent data shows that medical care related costs now cost North Carolina employers thousands of dollars per employee, each year.
Most Illnesses Can Be Avoided: Although it sounds unrealistic, experts suggest that avoidable illness makes up 60% – 70% of the entire burden of illness in the U.S.. In North Carolina, it is estimated that more than 53% of all deaths are avoidable, and that 2/3 of all avoidable deaths are due to tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor diet.
Stress Levels are On the Rise: As company resources dwindle and employers adopt less-costly work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have an increased impact. In a current national poll, 78% of the population described their jobs as stressful, and most felt that stress levels have risen over The last decade. Moreover, high levels of company stress can negatively affect a company by growing injuries, absenteeism, and medical costs while decreasing productivity. Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in company decision-making can better stress levels in the workplace.
What is the Initial Cost and Time Investment for a Company Wellness ?
The expenditure is dependent upon the type of Company Wellness implemented. There are several options to encourage employee health with pros and cons of each. The program design is dependent upon the objectives of the wellness program, the company resources, and the community resources available.
Improving dietary practices, increasing physical exercise levels, managing stress or approaching work life balance problems, and reducing/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common avoidable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your company deals with these problems are endless and can range from increasing employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few pamphlets on a variety of topics, and calculating walking distances around your facility, to starting company support such as funding a full-time occupational health professional or building an worksite fitness center.
When well-planned and based on your objectives, any of these programs can help you succeed. Refer below to Company Wellness Design Options for additional ideas.
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