Making the Case for Employee Wellness
Major advantages of healthy employees include:
• Reduced Health Care costs
• Diminished Injuries
• Diminished Absenteeism
• Increased Morale and Loyalty
• Increased Productivity
• Diminished Use of Health Care Benefits
• Diminished Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Perception in Community
• Diminished Turnover
• Improved recruitment for able employee
What is NOT Having a Employee Wellness Costing Your Company?
Consider the health risk factors that are exacerbating chronic diseases for adults:
• 59 percent of American citizens are overweight or obese
• More than 60 percent of American adults do not exercise regularly
• More than 75 percent of American adults do not consume the minimum recommendations for fruits and vegetables
• Heart disease is the most common cause of death and the leading cause of death in smokers
• 26 percent of employees reported they were frequently or very frequently burned out or stressed by their job
Health Care costs are Rising: Health Care expenditures are at a record level of $1.7 trillion with no signs of leveling out, let alone decreasing. The average expense of annual medical spending is over $5,000 per person and with dependents almost $10,000. Recent data shows that medical related costs now cost North Carolina corporations thousands of dollars per employee, each year.
Most Illnesses Can Be Prevented: Although it sounds unrealistic, experts indicate that avoidable 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 avoidable, and that 2/3 of all avoidable deaths are due to tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition.
Stress Levels are Increasing: As business resources diminish and corporations adopt less-costly work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have a greater effect. In a new nationwide poll, 78 percent of American citizens described their jobs as stressful, and most felt that stress levels have worsened over The last decade. In addition, high levels of business stress have the potential to negatively affect a business by increasing injuries, absenteeism, and healthcare expenditures while decreasing work rate. Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in business decision-making have the potential to improve stress levels in the workplace.
What is the Upfront Cost and Time Investment for a Employee Wellness ?
The expense depends on the type of Employee Wellness implemented. There are several options to promote employee health with pros and cons of each. The program design depends on the objectives and goals of the wellness program, the business resources, and the neighborhood resources available.
Enhancing dietary practices, expanding physical exercise levels, managing stress or discussing work life balance concerns, and reducing/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common avoidable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your business addresses these concerns are endless and can range from expanding employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few handouts on a variety of topics, and calculating walking distances around your facility, to implementing business reinforcement such as funding a full-time occupational health professional or building an onsite fitness center.
When well-planned and based on your objectives and goals, any of these programs have the potential to help you succeed. Refer below to Employee Wellness Design Options for additional ideas.
