WELLNESS PROGRAM BENEFITS

Financial Benefits of Wellness Programs

While companies certainly care about the well-being of their employees, decision-makers admit that a primary reason their company maintains a wellness program is to help curb health care costs, and 59 percent of companies agree that wellness programs can help reduce these costs.

A comprehensive analysis of 42 published studies of worksite health promotion programs showed that companies that implemented an effective wellness program realized significant cost reductions and financial gains, including:

An average of 28 percent reduction in sick days
An average of 26 percent reduction in health costs
An average of 30 percent reduction in workers’ compensation and disability management claims
An average $5.93 to $1 savings-to-cost ratio

Source: The Institute of Health Care Consumerism

Healthy Lifestyle Benefits

A healthy lifestyle offers many benefits. Anyone…at any stage of their life can make positive changes that will enrich their personal and professional lives.

There are many physical and mental benefits associated with living a healthy lifestyle. With most individuals who are living a fast-paced, hectic and under-nourished lifestyle, it is no wonder that visits to the doctor, missed work and work-related injuries have increased at such an alarming rate.

There are countless benefits associated with living a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few of these benefits:

Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
Reduction in probability of virtually all diseases
Improved joint stability, flexibility, and strength
Increased overall strength and stamina
Increased and improved range of movement
Helps maintain flexibility, balance, and coordination as you age
Maintain bone density
Preventing osteoporosis and bone fractures
Improved sense of wellness and mood
Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
Improved self-esteem
Improved self-confidence
Improved sharpness and clarity of mind
Improved memory in elderly people
Reduced stress
Increase in the length of one's life

Source: Fitness Health 101

What Makes a Wellness Program Work?

Leadership Commitment and Support: A successful health promotion program starts with a commitment from company leaders, and its continued success depends on ongoing support at all levels of the organization.
Building a Culture of Health: A healthy company culture is built intentionally. It is first and foremost about creating a way of life in the workplace that integrates a total health model into every aspect of business practice, from company policies to everyday work activities.
Offering Smart Incentives: Paying people to change life-long habits may not work. However, there is strong evidence that proper incentives drive participation rates, keep employees engaged and motivated to begin efforts to achieve self-determined health goals.

Source: Havard Business Review