Posts from — November 2008

Wellness During the Summer

Wellness is important all year long; however if your staff members haven’t gotten on the Wellness bandwagon, then now is the perfect time to get them there.

Summer is an ideal time of year to get back into shape and improve overall Wellness.  The weather is beautiful, staff members can get outside and they are motivated by the thought of having to wear clothes with less coverage.  Fitness, or lack of physical fitness, is apparent in the summer.

Wellness in the Summer has Advantages

There are many advantages to starting a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative in the Summer.  Employees are more likely to get outside and walk or participate in group activities during the summer than they are in the cooler months of the fall and winter.  Summer is also a great time to establish a Wellness challenge with your staff members and celebrate the completion of the challenge with a participant picnic or cookout.  Finally, it always seems easier to eat healthy during the summer with all the fresh vegetables and fruits that are available during this time.

Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative Kick-off

We recommend following these steps when starting a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative in your office.

Pick a coordinator for the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative who is willing and able to see it through.
Make sure that you have the support of corporate leadership.
Create a Wellness committee
Make use of a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative survey to uncover the obstacles and goals of your Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative
Provide Health Risk Assessments (HRAs)
Analyze the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative and changes as needed
Remember to stress that the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative is for the workers.  Workplace Wellness Programs have been found to prevent obesity, cancer, heart disease and hypertension.  Taking part in in a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative that offers all that should be an easy decision for the corporation and for the staff members.

Workplace Wellness Programs and Health Care Costs

Workplace Wellness Programs are more important now than ever.  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, with the troubles in the economy it seems that the costs of organization provided health care keep continuing to grow and it doesn’t seem like it is going to change.  The article notes that during the year 2008, United States companies can expect to see an increase of 10% in health care costs.

This increase in health care costs is causing some small companies to reduce their employee health benefits or get rid of them altogether.

Workplace Wellness Programs for Healthier Lifestyles

Workplace Wellness Programs do offer an option for small companies.  The corporations can offer discounted co-pays and deductibles to those staff members that fully participate in the offered Workplace Wellness Program.  Full participation means getting health screens, receiving a health risk assessment, and then working with their wellness coordinator to work towards a healthier lifestyle.

The healthier the staff members, the reduce the overall health care costs for the corporation.  Just one lengthy hospital stay can almost deplete a small business’ health care budget.

Workplace Wellness Programs and Your Bottom Line

Workplace Wellness Programs offer many advantages to a corporation’s bottom-line. Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative Statistics from Prudential Insurance show a benefit expense of $312 per individual enrolled in a Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative compared to an expense of $574 per employee that wasn’t enrolled.  Coors Brewing Company showed a positive side-effect of participant absenteeism dropping by 18%, thus greater production and less health care costs overall.