Corporate Wellness Programming: The New Benefit
With
the cost of healthcare rising every day, people need better alternatives to
reduce costs. That's why Corporate Wellness programming
benefits both employers and
employees.
Why Corporate Wellness?
Introduction
A typical American now works 47 hours a week, according to the US Labor
Department. That's nearly a working month more that the most recent
generation.
In
Response, an estimated 80 to 90 percent of large corporations in the United
States have become more focused on keeping
their employees fit and healthy through corporate wellness programs - the "new benefit"
that is taking
place alongside medical care, flexible spending and
401(k) retirement programs.
Progressive companies
are finding that corporate wellness is good for the bottom line - of their
business, their employees and families. Consider these facts:
-
 Fact #1:
Health Care Costs are skyrocketing
- Fact #2: 70%
of illnesses are considered preventable, which means that health-care
providers and companies are beginning to pay more attention to disease and
injury prevention before treatment.
- Fact #3: Studies
indication that corporate wellness programs often contribute to:
- Improved morale
- Increased
employee productivity
- Reduced
absenteeism
- Reduced
health-care costs
- Better retention
and recruitment
The New Benefit:
It was once an exception, but
it's fast becoming the expectation. Today, corporate wellness programs are
viewed by many as the "new benefit" in compensation packages for all
employees. A recent survey suggest that health
club memberships now rank among the most sought-after employees.
Corporate wellness also
has gained a sport on the national agenda. In 2003, Congress considered the
Health Promotion Research Act, which infused millions of dollars into health
promotional efforts and research. And a recent survey found that two-thirds
of Americans surveyed felt that disease-prevention research was more or
equally as important than treatment or cure research. In other words, if
your employees aren't asking about corporation wellness programming yet, the
will be soon. Why are workplace corporate wellness
programs gaining such popularity?
As pioneering employers have found, corporate wellness is proving to be an
excellent business. The Wellness Councils of America, a national non-profit
organization promoting healthier lifestyles, offers three reasons behind the
growth in corporate wellness:
- Most Americans spend
more of their waking hours at work than they do anywhere else.
- Medical costs consume half, or more, of
company profits.
- Well-designed corporate wellness programs can
effect health -risk behaviors at the worksite, thereby affecting the
bottom line.
Employers say that they pursue corporate
wellness for related reasons. In a recent study of employers offering
worksite wellness in a major metropolitan area, improvement of health and
morale, along with reduction in absenteeism and health-care costs, were
reported as primary motivations for doing so. |
