Benefits of corporate wellness programs: Statistics
- Preventable illness makes up at least 70 percent of all illness and the associated costs
- The total cost of obesity to U.S. employers is $13 billion per year
- Obese Americans spend about 36 percent more on health services and 77 percent more on medications than people of healthy weight. That’s more than heavy smokers or heavy drinkers
- Workplace alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use costs over $100 billion each year
- Job stress is estimated to cost $200 to $300 billion annually in absenteeism, tardiness, and lost productivity
- Workers’ compensation costs for a smoker averages $2,189 compared to only $176 for a nonsmoker
Benefits of corporate wellness programs: Why the Workplace?
Poor health impacts the most precious resource of your organization – the effectiveness and performance of your human capital. Unmanaged health issues, such as diabetes, migraine headaches, or asthma attacks, can damage productivity significantly when they are viewed cumulatively across an employee population.
The workplace is an ideal setting to address these health issues and promote healthier lifestyles. At the workplace, individuals can obtain health-related information, take part in health screenings and preventive services, and gain the social support often needed for health behavior change.
In addition to helping employees sustain healthier habits, corporate wellness programs also reduce stress, increase employee job satisfaction, increase employee morale, and aid in employee recruitment and retention.
Benefits of corporate wellness programs: Return-on-Investment
Best of all, the return-on-investment (ROI) for corporate wellness programs have been well documented over the past two decades. Year-round comprehensive corporate wellness programs have shown savings-to-cost ratios of over $3 saved for each $1 invested. Documented savings are observed in medical costs, absenteeism, worker’s compensation costs, short-term disability, and increased productivity and presenteeism (how productive the employee is during time on the job).
A corporate wellness program not only uses targeted interventions to reduce health costs, but it is also a strategy to create a dynamic work environment. Health promotion programs create an organizational culture that fosters vitality, motivation, and synergy. Incorporating a wellness program is a worthwhile long-term strategy to improving the health and well-being of your employees.
Benefits of Corporate Wellness Programs: Reducing the Burden of Obesity
Sixty percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, a 74% increase in prevalence since 1991. Being overweight or obese makes people much more likely to develop a variety of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. “Nearly two out of three people are overweight, and one out of three is obese. The prevalence of obese children is on the rise, currently 15 percent of children are considered overweight or obese. The rate in which this epidemic is growing is stunning.” says Surgeon General Richard Carmona1.
Less than 15% of Americans eat the daily recommended number of fruits and vegetables, and less than 25% get the recommended amounts of exercise. The consequences of those choices cost taxpayers money, hurt business productivity and diminish quality of life for millions Americas. Inactive lifestyles and poor eating habits are much of the reason our national cost of health care now exceeds two trillion dollars. These medical costs directly affect you as an employer and a taxpayer.
At Phoenix Rising Yoga Studio we are partnered with CDT Wellness, together we are aimed at reducing the burden of obesity and other health risk factors. A well rounded wellness program is key to a healthy and productive work place. Contact us today and find out how both CDT Wellness and Phoenix Rising Yoga Studio can help create an on-going and comprehensive wellness program for your company.
