Workplace Wellness : Why Invest In Corporate Wellness?

• The news isn’t encouraging. According to Company Week, family healthcare premiums increased 49 percent from 2000 to 2004.

Another increase of 12-15% is expected in 2005. General Motors expects to spend $5.6 billion on health costs in 2005, or 40% more than it earned in profits in 2004.

• More research shows that poor diet andphysical inactivity are major drivers of increases in healthcare costs for employers.  The number of obese adults has doubled since the 1970s.

• The rise in obesity has a significant impact on healthcare costs. on average, 2002 healthcare costs for an obese person were $1,244 higher than for a person with a healthful weight.

• Obesity is causing rapid increases in type 2 diabetes and contributes directly to a 65 percent increase in diabetes treatment from 1987 to 2002. Almost $1 of every $5 spent on healthcare in the USA is for a individuals with diabetes.

Treating employee health care as an investment, rather than a cost, can yield long-term dividends

• At least 50% of your organization’s healthcare costs are driven by the lifestyle related behaviors of your workforce, like smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise.

• In the past 10 years, the annual return on investment for Wellness Programs has been as much as $6 saved for every $1 spent, doubling the return on investment of earlier wellness programs.

• The typical reduction in health-plan costs, sick leave, disability costs, and workers’ compensation is more than 25% for well-designed Health Promotion Programs.

• Fit workers are more productive workers, with fewer sick days, fewer accidents, higher morale, and lower job turnover.