Benefits of Corporate Health Promotion Programs
Introduction to Corporate Health Promotion Programs
Risky health behaviors by workers cost a company. Changing those behaviors can save the employer money and increase the worker’s productivity.
Because work gives an worker a stable setting and support system, Corporate Health Promotion Programs can have a great impact on decreasing high-risk behaviors. This impact results in decrease health claims cost, less rates of absenteeism, and less short-term disability.
Corporate Health Promotion Programs can include:
Awareness Rasing Programs: Health and wellness newsletters, health topics covered in payroll stuffers, healthy emails.
Health Risk Assessment: Employee health screenings, health fairs, health risk appraisals.
Educational Programs: Lunchtime wellness presentations, guest speakers at staff meetings.
Skill Building: Healthy cooking demostrations, activity challenges, CPR instruction opportunites, stress management classes, weight management classes.
Interventions: Massage, smoking cessation, and skills to help you get the most out of your doctor visit.
Physical setting: Healthy items in the vending machines and cafeterias, clean air practices, ergonomics, bike racks, flex time, welllit stairways.
Assessment: Staff Member needs assessment, baseline Corporate Health Promotion Program evaluation measures, ongoing Corporate Health Promotion Program evaluation of overall effectiveness.
Why Offer Corporate Health Promotion Programs
The typical employer spends about $8,000 a year on an employee’s medical care. This includes medical insurance, disability and worker’s compensation. As these costs climb, medical insurance is expected to rise at least 10% per year.
A 1999 study showed that corporations using Corporate Health Promotion Programs had a return on investment from $1.49 – $13 in benefits per dollar spent. The amount depended on the nature of the Corporate Health Promotion Programs used. (S. Aldana, American Journal of Wellness, 2001; 15:296-320)
One study showed that a “stop smoking” element to Corporate Health Promotion Programs can save between $404 -$40,829 per employee, depending on the age and sex of the worker.
The Corporate Health Promotion Programs at Traveler’s Company included a self-care book, a newsletter, single-topic brochures, and videotapes. The Corporate Health Promotion Programs saved the company $7.8 million in employee benefi t costs, decreased doctor visits, and it decreased rates of absenteeism by 1.2 days per worker per year. The estimated Corporate Health Promotion Programs ROI was $3.40 per dollar spent.
In 1998, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) reported a study of 46,026 workers from six large organizations for three years. Employees with an inactive lifestyle had 10% higher costs; workers with depression had 70% higher costs.
Benefits of Corporate Health Promotion Programs
Increased Productivity – The Canada Life Assurance Company realized a 4% increase in productivity after establishing an employee fitness program.
Increased Job Satisfaction – According to employee opinion surveys conducted by the Silverstone Group about thier Corporate Health Promotion Programs, workers’ morale increased, which helped support a more creative work setting.
Enhanced Recruitment & Retention – In the midst of a tight labor market, Corporate Health Promotion Programs could be a vital tool to draw new recruits.
Decreased Absenteeism – Canada Life Assurance Company’s rates of absenteeism dropped 42% among workers in the Corporate Health Promotion Programs.
Decreased Workers Comp & Disability – In one year, Boeing Company’s number of back injuries decreased by 34%. Six million dollars was saved by tracking injuries as they occurred.
Managed Healthcare Costs – Golden, Colorado Adolf Coors Company’s Corporate Health Promotion Programs returned $6.19 for every dollar spent.