Why Workplace Health and Wellness?
It has been documented that healthy employees are more productive, take less time off work, spend less money on prescription drugs and are generally happier in the workplace. Many ROI case studies have been documented, and on average, if Wellness programs are designed properly, employers should get a 3 to 1 return on their investment.
The rapid decline in workplace wellness is reflected in the following statistics relating to physical fitness, poor eating habits, personal and workplace stresses and life balance.
Health and Wellness in the Workplace
- "A 74% increase in 10 years is an alarming obesity growth rate of 7.25% average per year." (Braun Consulting News)
- "Obesity is associated with 39 million lost work days; 239 million restricted activity days; 90 million bed days; 63 million physician visits." (Current Estimates of the Economic Cost of Obesity in the United States, Obesity Research 1998)
- "Three main conditions related to obesity are diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease – and they cost employers more than $220 billion annually in medical care and lost productivity." (Based on research by MetLife, the CDC, and the American College of Cardiology)
- "The workplace, where many adults spend a third of their day, or half their waking hours, is a logical place for health intervention.” (Nutrition and the Workplace)
- "A 1995 study from Ontario found that a 1% increase in physical activity participation rates in this province would result in direct government health savings of CAN$31 million." (Saskatchewan DOH, 2001)
- "The Conference Board of Canada calculated that treatment costs for heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer would drop by CAN$11.5 million annually if the number of physically active Canadians increased by just 1%." (Saskatchewan DOH, 2001)
- "Only 15% of U.S. workers exercise enough, and 40% don’t attempt so much as a sit-up. More than half blame work, with 8 in 10 grousing that they would hit the treadmill, if only their employers encouraged it." (Time Magazine June, 2007)
- "Over 60% of Canadian workers say they experience high stress due to work/life balance conflicts. Thirty percent say they think about leaving their jobs on a weekly basis. If you have 100 employees, 18 of them may leave their job at any time."
- "The total workplace health burden in Canada has been estimated at $32.5 Billion per year." (Canadian Council of Integrated Health Care)
- "In Canada, the cost-effectiveness of workplace health promotion programs is estimated to be CAN$1.75 – $6.85 for every corporate dollar invested." (Nutrition and the Workplace)
Workplace Wellness is good for Business and it pays off! No two businesses are alike, so its' important to have the right combination of programs designed for your company. Life2Go will help guide you with a well researched, customized Employee Wellness program, specifically designed to meet your needs. One of the objectives should be to stimulate a healthy corporate culture that will produce results that positively affect your bottom line.
Contact us for a free consultation and enter your name and email below to receive FREE helpful resources to help with your Wellness initiative.
