Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 18-02-2011
Corporate Fitness Programs Improve Employee Wellness
Instituting a wellness program improves the health of staff, reduces worker absenteeism and saves the business money, too. Learn more about beginning an worker wellness program in the office.
Benefits of Wellness Programs
o A company investment of $100-$150 per worker yearly to participate in an worker health promotion program can save organizations $300 to $450 for each worker every year, according to Ron Goetzel, Director, Cornell Univ. Institute for Health and Productivity Studies.
The savings can take several years to actualize, says Goetzel, and are seen in reduced health expenditures.
o The Wellness Councils of America reported a $24 return for every $1 spent on a corporation wellness program for small companies.
o According to a 2005 survey by the Art of Wellness, organizations who instituted staff member health promotion programs realized a 30 percent reduction in medical and absenteeism costs in less than four years.
A successful health promotion program begins with company leaders. Corporation owners should lead by example, taking part in their organization’s employee exercise program and working closely with a wellness coach.
Corporation leaders should be certain staff members are well aware of their wellness efforts, posting weight loss results or use of tobacco cessation results on corporation intranet or bulletin boards for everyone to see.
Worker Health Promotion Programs that Really Work
o Be certain to encourage workforce to kick begin their own health promotion programs by visiting their doctor. A complete physical should include information about blood sugar, cholesterol levels and general health.
o Target specific health-related concerns in a employee exercise initiative. Information about how to fight obesity, tobacco use, alcoholism and drug abuse should be at the forefront of an worker wellness program, along with related conditions.
o Hire a wellness coach to instruct personnel on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
o Reward personnel for participating in corporation wellness programs. Let personnel accrue wellness points that they can redeem for prizes.
Make the prizes healthy, too- a free massage, private training session with the corporation’s wellness coach or health food gift certificate encourages even healthier lifestyle options.
o Acknowledge worker health promotion leaders in organization newsletters, in posted bulletins and on the organization intranet.
Corporation Wellness Programs Yield Big Results
For business owners who want to raise staff member participation in a business health promotion program, consider Johnson and Johnson’s approach.
Faced with only 26 percent of personnel participating in their employee wellness program, Johnson and Johnson offered personnel a $500 discount on medical insurance costs if they completed a health risk profile.
The number of personnel participating in the Johnson and Johnson corporate fitness program jumped after they offered the incentive — to more than 93%.
Ron Goetzel encourages those looking to pitch a staff exercise program to company leaders to use basic facts about the advantages of employee wellness programs as part of their argument.
Keep it simple, and share results from other company’s worker wellness program success stories.