Why Offer Corporate Wellness?
As far back as 2010, we as a nation spent nearly $2.6 trillion on healthcare and it was predicted that by 2020, we will reach $4.6 trillion (CMMS).
Over the last decade, employer-sponsored health care costs have increased 131%. Recent studies indicate that approximately 50% of corporate profits now go towards health care costs versus only 7% three decades ago. A 2009 study conducted by Dr. Ron Loeppke found that lost productivity costs due to presenteeism and absenteeism are 2.3 times higher than direct health costs.
According to Dr. Steven Hotze, the annual cost of lost productivity to employee fatigue is $136 billion. Dr. Hotze on presenteeism:
“Presenteeism, an employee who works at a lower productivity rate due to health reasons, results in an annual cost of $6,721 per employee. A common misconception among employers is that employees who are absent due to illness are a bigger threat when in fact presenteeism is 10 times as costly. Several studies have shown that the top contributors for presenteeism health conditions are anxiety, depression, migraines, diabetes, arthritis, and back and neck pain.”
Employers are actively seeking new ways to reduce health care costs without jeopardizing their ability to attract and retain workers. These factors have prompted many organizations to actively promote health and wellness at the work site. According to a survey released by Buck Consultants in 2011, 74% of responding employers in North America said they now offer wellness programs, providing incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles among employees. As an example, Johnson & Johnson reported that it spends $4.5 million each year on its comprehensive preventive-healthcare programs, but it estimates that without these programs its medical bills would be at least $13 million higher.
Organizational Benefits of Employee Health Education
By providing education to employees specifically on how to improve eating habits, reduce stress, and increase healthy lifestyle activities like exercise, your organization will experience the following benefits:
Reduction in chronic disease – up to 80%!
Decreased healthcare costs – one example sites a 2% reduction in the first year alone!
Reduced absenteeism
Increased productivity
Increased employee morale
Enhanced workplace culture
Attract more talented employees and experience less turnover.
Examples of Benefits Achieved
A study at NASA found that while the productivity of non-exercising employees decreased 50% during the final two hours of the workday, those who had an exercise plan in place worked at full efficiency all day. This represents a 12.5% higher overall productivity level in exercisers as compared to non-exercisers.
Studies at Dupont and General Mills, which implemented comprehensive wellness education and programming, found 14% to 19% reductions in absenteeism. General Electric reported an astounding 45% decrease in absenteeism.
In a study from the Milbank Quarterly, one company that sponsored a corporate wellness program for 324 of its employees saved over $1 million and saw their participants’ medical costs drop 40% over a three-year period.
Your First Solution: Employee Health and Wellness Workshop
As a certified Health Coach, I facilitate an Employee Health and Wellness workshop. This workshop includes education on how to implement better nutrition and life choices to create a healthier life, produce a more efficient day, and reduced stress in the work environment. It serves as a first step in allowing you to improve workplace health, and therefore experience many of the benefits described above.
The workshop is a fun and informative forum for the discussion of healthy living. I utilize an interactive approach to facilitate active learning and individual empowerment. This approach allows participants to engage in discussion and interact with other attendees through various exercises and brainstorming. Participants also receive valuable giveaways to take with them, furthering their knowledge after the workshop.
The workshop is 30-45 minutes in length and may be presented at multiple times to allow for the varying schedules of your employees. A small group format of no more than 25 to 30 participants is recommended per workshop session. In various workshops, participants will learn:
The current state of health in the US
Foods and lifestyle approaches that cause poor health
The effects of sugar on health and energy
How to make better food choices at work and at home
How to improve lifestyle, including exercise and relaxation
Ways to efficiently take action towards achieving goals
Options for having ongoing support after the workshop
Benefits to Employees
Educating your employees about healthy food and lifestyle choices, stress reduction, exercise, and eating for sustained energy will provide the following benefits:
Improved overall health
Improved nutrition and healthier eating habits
Reduced stress and anxiety
Fewer food cravings
Increased energy and vitality
Increased daily satisfaction
I offer in person, depending on where your company is headquartered, and virtual wellness workshops presented as Lunch and Learns. I present a particular topic, such as eating for energy, during your company’s lunch hour as a way to help your employees gain the knowledge they need along with an action step they can begin using right away! The goal is to begin crowding out the unhealthy habits, which lead to low energy, focus, and mood, with the healthier habits that typically result in more focus and productivity! Let’s face it, when we are not feeling well, we simply lack the energy and motivation to tackle new projects and goals.
Following my workshop, employees will have the opportunity to work with me one-on-one in private coaching if they choose. There is no additional commitment from the employer to his/her employees.
If you are an employer and are interested in exploring a Lunch and Learn with me, email me here and provide me with your company’s name and why you are interested along with a phone number where I can reach you. We can then set up a 20-minute phone call to discuss in more detail what a Lunch and Learn entails.
I look forward to helping you establish an healthier and happier work environment!