Employee wellness programs are a way for employers to show that they value the health of their workers while saving their company money.
These programs are designed to offer a variety of services to help educate employees on healthy lifestyle management techniques that could potentially lower the company's healthcare costs. A healthier employee may require fewer visits to the doctor's office, reducing the amount of money their employer has to spend each year on health insurance. There have been several reports from sources such as Forbes Magazine, Harvard Business School and the American Heart Association that have found that for every dollar a company spends on employee wellness programs they can expect three in return.
"Within the first 12 to 18 months, medical costs fall by approximately $3.27 for every dollar spent on worksite wellness; absenteeism costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent," from the American Heart Association.
Along with the potential money saving aspects of these programs, they can also be a valuable tool in managing the health of employees. Many people do not understand the dangers of unhealthy habits such as smoking and living a sedentary lifestyle that may lead to obesity. Employee wellness programs can educate workers on their emerging health problems and work with them to find solutions or remedies.
Recently, a study conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Oxford University estimated that by 2030 there will be 65 million more obese people in the United States. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 33.6 percent of Americans are obese. Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other potentially serious health conditions.
LivingWell Health Solutions has designed a variety of programs to combat obesity and other growing health concerns via employee wellness programs. The HealthONSITE clinic, one of the main services offered by the company, gives workers access to medical care in a safe and convenient environment. The clinic also provides tools to help employees monitor their own progress. Annual personal Health Report Cards will show program participants their cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other valuable information about their health.
Once an employee has agreed to participate with the onsite clinic model, they will be given a health evaluation and a personalized Healthy Life Plan that will offer recommendations on what they should do to manage their risk of illness over the next year.
The benefits of these programs have been proven over the course of the past few years. In the summer of 2011, a group of Chicago businesses were recognized for their successful employee wellness programs. One employer said that their employees reduced their BMI by 4 percent per person and body fat by 11 percent on average after participating in programs like the LivingWell Health Solutions HealthONSITE clinic.
The stress of office life can make it difficult for workers to take the time to manage their health. Employee wellness programs offer hard working employees the support and education they need to understand what it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle, all while saving their company money.