Experts make a good business case for wellness programs

Monday, 12 September 2011 16:00

News - Corporate Wellness Programs

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In light of a weak economy and the rising costs of healthcare, business administrators are keeping close tabs on their company's expenditures. As such, some may be skeptical about implementing an employee wellness program, questioning whether the initiative would be worth the money.

However, employee wellness programs have been shown to help reduce absenteeism, cut costs stemming from insurance benefits, strengthen employee productivity and result in lower turnover, according to an article in the Muskogee Phoenix.

These money-saving factors can potentially offset the initial cost of a wellness program.

An article on Forbes.com reports that roughly three quarters of healthcare costs stem from the lifestyle habits of staff members, suggesting that interventions to change unhealthy behavior may be successful in reducing insurance expenditures.

Additionally, the article noted that wellness programs are estimated to result in $3 return for every dollar spent on the initiative. The author cited research that was conducted by the Wellness Council of America.

Recent studies have shown that organizations should gauge employee needs before implementing a wellness strategy in order to get the most out of their money. For example, workers who tend to eat right and exercise may be more in need of a program that provides stress management tools than one that encourages healthy eating.