Worksite Health and Wellness Programs for Small Businesses
Studies suggest that for every $1 invested in Worksite Health and Wellness Programs, a company saves $3 to $5 in health and safety costs. Corporations that invest in Worksite Health and Wellness Programs reap the financial incentives through savings on medical care costs, disability pay, rates of absenteeism, turnover and safety problems.
worksites have already proven to be a great place to promote wellness. After all, people spend more time at work than doing anything else. Eighty-two percent of the U.S. population is linked in some way to a worksite. Therefore, providing Worksite Health and Wellness Programs is a great way to reach a substantial number of people in your area.
Worksite Health and Wellness Programs in Small Businesses
Unlike large companies, small companies frequently lack the resources to provide Worksite Health and Wellness Programs to their workers. However, they may be the most in need of such services. Small businesses are the hardest hit by health insurance costs and have the highest rates of substance abuse. Staff Member well-being and physical or mental illness can also be more disruptive in a small business environment. Worksite Health and Wellness Programs in small companies also makes sense because small firms employ the majority of working citizens.
Regardless of the size of a business, Worksite Health and Wellness Programs can pay. Statistically, even if there are only 100 people in a company:
• 60 sit all day to do their work
• 50 don’t wear their safety belts regularly
• 50 feel they’re under moderate stress
• 35 are overweight by 20 percent or more
• 30 smoke
• 27 have cardiovascular disease
• 25 or more have high cholesterol (over 200 mg/dl)
• 10 are heavy drinkers
• 10 have high blood pressure
• 5 have diagnosed diabetes and another 5 have undiagnosed diabetes
• 7 use marijuana
• 1 uses cocaine
Bottom Line Worksite Health and Wellness Program Benefits
At least one quarter of the medical care costs incurred by working adults can be attributed to modifiable health risks (e.g., diet, exercise, tobacco use, etc.) Fortunately, there is a way to hold back the trend. Growing research links an individual’s lifestyle behaviors to their health risk.
The good news is Worksite Health and Wellness Programs can:
• Lower medical care costs
• Lower workers’ compensation claims
• Lower worker rates of absenteeism
• Increase worker productivity
• Improve worker morale
The bottom line is that Worksite Health and Wellness Programs can benefit any size business — small or large.