Employee Health Promotion

Major benefits of healthy employees include:

• Lower Healthcare expenditures
• Reduced Injuries
• Reduced Absenteeism
• Boosted Morale and Loyalty
• Increased Productivity
• Reduced Use of Healthcare Benefits
• Reduced Workers’ Comp/Disability
• Positive Image in Community
• Reduced Turnover
• Better recruitment for competent employees

What is NOT Having a Employee Health Promotion Costing Your Corporation?

Let us look at the health risk factors that are contributing to chronic diseases for adults:

• 59% of adults are overweight or obese
• More than 60% of American citizens do not get regular exercise
• More than 75% of American citizens do not get the minimum recommendations for fruits and vegetables
• Heart disease is the leading common cause of death and the # 1 cause of death in smokers
• 26% of employees reported they were often or very often burned out or stressed by their occupation

Healthcare expenditures are Rising: Healthcare costs are at a record figure of $1.7 trillion with no signs of holding steady, let alone going down. The average expense of yearly healthcare spending is over $5,000 per person and including dependents almost $10,000. Recent data shows that healthcare expenditures now cost North Carolina organizations thousands of dollars per employee, per year. Most Illnesses Can Be Avoided: Although it sounds unrealistic, experts indicate that preventable 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 preventable, and that 2/3 of all preventable deaths are due to tobacco use, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet. Stress Levels are On the Rise: As business resources become less and organizations adopt leaner work practices, the effects of absenteeism and lost productivity have a greater influence. In a current national poll, 78% of Americans described their jobs as stressful, and most felt that stress levels have worsened over The last 10 years. In addition, high levels of business stress have the potential to adversely affect a business by increasing injuries, absenteeism, and healthcare costs while decreasing productivity. Simple solutions such as stress management education, flexible work schedules, quality social interaction, and increased participation in business decision-making have the potential to better stress levels in the workplace.

What is the Upfront Cost and Time Investment for a Employee Health Promotion ?

The expense depends on the type of Employee Health Promotion implemented. There are several options to encourage employee health with advantages and disadvantages of each. The program design depends on the goals/objectives of the wellness program, the business resources, and the area resources available. Improving dietary practices, increasing physical activity levels, managing stress or approaching work life balance problems, and reducing/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 increasing employee awareness, which may include purchasing a few handouts on a variety of topics, and measuring walking distances around your facility, to establishing business backing such as funding a full-time occupational health consultant or building an worksite fitness center. When well-planned and based on your goals/objectives, any of these programs have the potential to help you succeed. Refer below to Employee Health Promotion Design Options for additional ideas.