Employee Wellness Initiatives for Small Organizations

Studies suggest that for every $1 invested in Employee Wellness Programs, a corporation saves $3 to $5 in health and safety costs. Employers that invest in Employee Wellness Initiatives reap the financial rewards through savings on health care costs, disability pay, rates of absenteeism, turnover and safety problems.

workplaces have already proven to be a great place to promote wellness. After all, people spend more time at work than doing anything else. Eighty-two percent of the United States population is linked in some way to a worksite. Therefore, providing Employee Wellness Initiatives is a great way to reach a substantial number of people in your area.

Employee Wellness Initiatives in Small Organizations

Unlike large companies, small companies frequently lack the resources to provide Employee Wellness Initiatives to their employees. However, they may be the most in need of such services. Small businesses are the hardest hit by health insurance costs and have the highest rates of substance abuse. Employee well-being and physical or mental illness can also be more disruptive in a small business setting. Employee Wellness Initiatives in small companies also makes sense because small firms employ the majority of working citizens.

Regardless of the size of a business, Employee Wellness Initiatives can pay. Statistically, even if there are only 100 people in a corporation:

• 60 sit all day to do their work
• 50 don’t wear their safety belts regularly
• 50 feel they’re under moderate stress
• 35 are overweight by 20 percent or more
• 30 smoke
• 27 have cardiovascular disease
• 25 or more have high cholesterol (over 200 mg/dl)
• 10 are heavy drinkers
• 10 have high blood pressure
• 5 have diagnosed diabetes and another 5 have undiagnosed diabetes
• 7 use marijuana
• 1 uses cocaine

Bottom Line Company Health Promotion Initiative Benefits

At least one quarter of the health care costs incurred by working adults can be attributed to modifiable health risks (e.g., diet, exercise, tobacco use, etc.) Fortunately, there is a way to hold back the trend. Growing research links an individual’s lifestyle behaviors to their health risk.

The good news is Employee Wellness Initiatives can:

• Reduce health care costs
• Reduce workers’ compensation claims
• Reduce employee rates of absenteeism
• Improve worker productivity
• Improve employee morale

The bottom line is that Employee Wellness Initiatives can benefit any size business — small or large.