Corporate Wellness Incentive Plans

A Company Wellness Program is a multi-faceted program to help and support staff members in establishing healthier lifestyles.  This may include rising employee awareness on health subject matters, scheduling behavior modification programs, and/or establishing business policies that support health-related objectives.  Programs and policies that encourage increased physical movement, tobacco use prevention and cessation, and healthy food selections are a few examples.  

Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness is more than physical fitness.  In addition to physical fitness, the scope of good health include:

   • Spiritual Wellness,
   • Emotional Wellness,
   • Social Dimension of Wellness,
   • Intellectual Wellness

These ranges are often depicted as a “life wheel” with examples of health dimensions that include fitness, diet, purpose in life, monetary planning, social well-being & backing systems, stress management, mind-body health, career planning and constant learning.   The key to individual health is keeping the “life wheel” in allignment.  A accross the board workplace wellness program addresses most, if not all, of these ranges.

Why Workplace Wellness Programs?

staff members spend much time working, and the reality is that our traditional work-week is growing.  In fact, the average American now labors about 47 hours every week.  In addition, technologies such as modems, laptops, cellular phones, voice and email have made vague the line between life and work.  These realities cut down on the amount of time that the average individual is able to devote to wellbeing and health pursuits, and yet staff members are predicted to be extremely efficient when at work.

A new study from the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses saw that workplace wellness or Corporate Health Promotion Programs are successful in helping staff members to make positive health changes due to several factors such as convenience, environmental support, and co-worker or social acceptance.  

What’s the Connection between Wellness and the Workplace?

Programs and policies that promote healthy behaviors can make a tremendous difference on employee wellness AND impact the corporation’s bottom line.  Studies have found that for every dollar invested by employers in Workplace Health Promotion Programs/wellness programs, there were savings ranging from $1.49 to $4.91 with a average savings of $3.14*.  In corporation terms, that’s more than a 3:1 minimum ROI – a number that is difficult to ignore, and a best practice that ought to warrant serious consideration from employers.  In fact, a Workplace Health Promotion Program literature review posted in Health Promotion Practitioner Journal found:

   • 19 research studies saw a 28.3 percent decrease in sick leave
   • 16 studies established a 5.6:1 return on investment
   • 23 showed a 26.1 percent decrease in health care expenditures
   • 4 found a 30% decline in direct health care and workers’ compensation claims

There is little doubt that a comprehensive wellness program created to meet an enterprise’s specific needs can save money by reducing absenteeism, lowering health care costs, lowering employee turnover, and expanding productivity.

• The United States Department of Health & Human Services, 2003