Benefits of Workplace Health Promotion Programs
Introduction to Workplace Health Promotion Programs
Risky health behaviors by staff members cost a company. Changing those behaviors can save the employer money and increase the staff member’s productivity.
Because work gives an staff member a stable environment and support system, Workplace Health Promotion Programs can have a great impact on decreasing high-risk behaviors. This impact results in reduce health claims cost, less rates of absenteeism, and less short-term disability.
Workplace Health Promotion Programs can include:
Awareness Rasing Programs: Health and wellness newsletters, health topics covered in payroll stuffers, healthy emails.
Health Risk Assessment: Employee health screenings, health fairs, health rist assessments.
Educational Programs: Lunchtime wellness presentations, guest speakers at staff meetings.
Skill Building: Healthy cooking demostrations, activity challenges, CPR instruction opportunites, stress management classes, weight management classes.
Interventions: Massage, smoking cessation, and skills to help you get the most out of your doctor visit.
Physical environment: Healthy items in the vending machines and cafeterias, clean air practices, ergonomics, bike racks, flex time, welllit stairways.
Evaluation: Staff Member needs assessment, baseline Workplace Health Promotion Program evaluation measures, ongoing Workplace Health Promotion Program evaluation of overall effectiveness.
Why Provide Workplace Health Promotion Programs
The typical employer spends about $8,000 a year on an employee’s health care. This includes medical insurance, disability and worker’s compensation. As these costs climb, medical insurance is expected to rise at least 10% per year.
A 1999 study showed that businesses using Workplace Health Promotion Programs had a ROI from $1.49 – $13 in benefits per dollar spent. The amount depended on the nature of the Workplace Health Promotion Programs used. (S. Aldana, American Journal of Wellness, 2001; 15:296-320)
One study showed that a “stop smoking” component to Workplace Health Promotion Programs can save between $404 -$40,829 per employee, depending on the age and sex of the staff member.
The Workplace Health Promotion Programs at Traveler’s Company included a self-care book, a newsletter, single-topic brochures, and videotapes. The Workplace Health Promotion Programs saved the company $7.8 million in employee benefi t costs, decreased doctor visits, and it reduced rates of absenteeism by 1.2 days per staff member per year. The estimated Workplace Health Promotion Programs ROI was $3.40 per dollar spent.
In 1998, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) reported a study of 46,026 staff members from six large companies for three years. Employees with an inactive lifestyle had 10% higher costs; staff members with depression had 70% higher costs.
Benefits of Workplace Health Promotion Programs
Increased Productivity – The Canada Life Assurance Company realized a 4% increase in productivity after creating an employee fitness program.
Increased Job Satisfaction – According to employee opinion surveys conducted by the Silverstone Group about thier Workplace Health Promotion Programs, staff members’ morale increased, which helped support a more creative work environment.
Improved Recruitment & Retention – In the midst of a tight labor market, Workplace Health Promotion Programs could be a vital tool to draw new recruits.
Decreased Absenteeism – Canada Life Assurance Company’s rates of absenteeism dropped 42% among staff members in the Workplace Health Promotion Programs.
Decreased Workers Comp & Disability – In one year, Boeing Company’s number of back injuries decreased by 34%. Six million dollars was saved by tracking injuries as they occurred.
Managed Medical Care Costs – Golden, Colorado Adolf Coors Company’s Workplace Health Promotion Programs returned $6.19 for every dollar spent.
