Study: Wellness programs reduce healthcare costs

1/30/2012

Companies that are debating whether to implement an employee wellness program may want to take into account the findings of a recent survey by the Principal Finance Group. USA Today reports that, according to the study, workers enrolled in these programs reported reduced healthcare costs.

Furthermore, the survey found that medical costs go down by $3.27 and absentee costs by $2.73 for every dollar spent on wellness. However, according to the news source, not all employers understand what it takes to have an effective program.

"There is a misalignment. Most employers offer online wellness information and educational resources. Employees want more hands-on, tangible rewards, like access to nutritionists and onsite fitness facilities," said Lee Dukes, president of Principal Wellness Company, a subsidiary of Principal Financial, quoted by the news source.

The savings recorded in this study support multiple other findings, such as the one published in the Harvard Business Review, which stated that for every dollar spent on wellness a company can expect anywhere between $2 and $6 in savings. 

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