Corporate Wellness Incentive Plans

Major advantages of healthy staff members include:

• Decreased Healthcare costs
• Reduced Injuries
• Diminished Rates of Absenteeism
• Increased Morale and Loyalty
• Increased Productivity
• Reduced Use of Health Care Benefits
• Diminished Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Image in Community
• Lowered Turnover
• Better recruitment for competent employees

What is NOT Having a Worksite Wellness Program Costing Your Employer?  

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 Americans do not get regular exercise
• More than 75% of American adults do not consume the minimum recommendations for fruits and vegetables
• Cardiovascular disease is the leading common cause of death and the # 1 cause of death in smokers
• 26% of workers reported they were frequently or very frequently burned out or stressed by their work  

Medical Care costs are Growing:  Medical Care costs are at a record figure of $1.7 trillion with no signs of leveling out, let alone going down.  The average expense of yearly medical care spending is over $5,000 per person and including dependents almost $10,000.  Recent data shows that medical care related costs now cost North Carolina employers thousands of dollars per employee, each year.

Most Illnesses Can Be Avoided:  Although it sounds unbelievable, experts indicate that avoidable illness makes up 60% – 70% of the entire burden of illness in the U.S..   In North Carolina, it is estimated that more than 53% of all deaths are avoidable, and that 2/3 of all avoidable deaths are due to tobacco use, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet.

Stress Levels are Increasing:  As organization resources diminish and employers adopt cheaper work practices, the effects of absenteeism and productivity lost have a more powerful influence.  In a new national poll, 78% of Americans described their jobs as stressful, and most felt that stress levels have worsened over The last ten years.  Furthermore, high levels of organization stress have the potential to adversely affect a organization by rising injuries, absenteeism, and medical expenditures while decreasing productiveness.  Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in organization decision-making have the potential to better stress levels in the workplace.

What is the Initial Cost and Time Investment for a Corporate Wellness Program?

The cost depends on the type of Corporate Wellness Program implemented.  There are several options to encourage employee health with advantages and disadvantages of each.  The program design depends on the objectives of the wellness program, the corporation resources, and the community resources available.  

Enhancing dietary practices, expanding physical movement levels, managing stress or discussing work life balance problems, and lowering/eliminating tobacco use, are primary strategies for preventing many of the most common preventable chronic diseases. The possibilities of how your business addresses these problems are endless and can range from expanding employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few handouts on a variety of topics, and quantifying walking distances around your facility, to starting business support such as funding a full-time occupational health professional or building an worksite fitness center.  

When well-planned and based on your goals/objectives, any of these programs are able to help you succeed.  Refer below to Worksite Wellness Program Design Options for additional ideas.