Wellness in the Workplace
It is common knowledge that American health outcomes are not in good shape. According to the CDC, more than 75 percent of health care spending is related to chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, obesity and respiratory conditions many of which are preventable. It has become imperative to examine the entirety of the American lifestyle.
Poor diet, lack of exercise and other major risk factors for heart disease and stroke are responsible for at least 25 percent of company’s healthcare costs. Investing in the health of employees is one of the best decisions a company can make. By creating a wellness environment, your company can help lower healthcare costs and protect your most important resource — your employees.
Chronically sick employees have become extremely costly for employers. Health insurance coverage and medical expenses has increased 36 percent over the past five years according to a Towers Watson survey. Chronically ill employees also tend to be less productive and absent more often. This translates into employers having a very real stake in their employees’ health.
Believe it or not, companies are starting to take notice. One way that employers are addressing these issues is through the implementation of workplace wellness programs. An array of programs have emerged over the past few years, often incentive-based, encouraging employees to make positive lifestyle decisions and hit certain health goals to reap rewards, many of which are financial. What do these programs look like? CHECK OUT MY NEXT BLOG!!
