Worksite Wellness ProgramsWorksite Wellness Programs

High rates of employee turnover and the costs of sick days are increasingly taking bites into company profits. The high cost of recruitment programs only adds to the challenges that these concerns in total cost the average company. Many businesses are finding the solution to these challenges by improving job satisfaction, team building, and the implementation of programs that give a reduction in these costs. It has become increasingly clear to most managers that a well designed wellness program / physical activity program with a strong nutritional and fitness lifestyle emphasis will directly meet this need. Senior Management’s goals and objectives for a productive wellness program must be viewed through the perspective of increased employee productivity, lowered absenteeism due to health related causes, improved employee morale, lowered utilisation of company subsidised health benefits, enhanced team cohesion and performance and a reduction in turnover due to lack of job satisfaction. It is obvious that an improvement in any of these areas will have a positive influence on the monetary status of any organisation. The benefits from an workers point of view can be seen in improved health, increased energy levels, lowered body fat, a more youthful fit body, an increased ability to handle job related stress, greater feelings of confidence and morale and more social groups at work contributing to greater feelings of satisfaction with their work and workplace. To be most productive a wellness program needs to achieve both senior staff’s and employee’s goals and objectives, and this can be accomplished through a program that will support the individual employee with an awareness of their current physical condition and attitudes to fitness and wellness, and the benefits of attaining a fitter, healthier lifestyle, and a plan that will allow them to achieve the significant changes to their physical condition that can be applied in the context of their life and work.

The Bottom Line – Worksite Wellness

Reduced Absenteeism – Dupont reduced absenteeism by 47.5% over six years for the participants of their company fitness program, (Health Behaviour, March 1992). Reduced Medical Care Expenditures – Steel case showed a reduction in medical care claim costs of 55% for corporate physical activity program participants over non-participants over a six year period – an average of $478.61 for participants vs. non-participants who averaged $868.88, (The Am. Journal of Health Promotion, Sept/Oct, 1991). Reduced Turnover – Turnover among physical activity program participants at the Canadian Life Assurance Corporation was 32.4% lower over a seven year period compared with non-participants (Canadian Journal of Public Health, Jan/Feb, 1988). Positive Return on Investment – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana observed that its company physical activity program had a 250% return on investment; $2.51 for every $1 invested over a five year period (American Journal of Health Promotion, March, April, 1991).