Employee Health Promotion Programs for Small Businesses

Studies suggest that for every $1 invested in Employee Health Promotion Programs, a business saves $3 to $5 in health and safety costs. Organizations that invest in Employee Health Promotion Programs reap the financial benefits through savings on healthcare costs, disability pay, absenteeism, turnover and safety problems.

Worksites have already proven to be a great place to promote wellness. After all, working adults spend more waking hours at work than anywhere else. Eighty-two percent of the U.S. population is linked in some way to a worksite. Therefore, providing Employee Health Promotion Programs is a great way to reach a substantial number of people.

Employee Health Promotion Programs in Small Businesses

Unlike large businesses, small businesses frequently lack the resources to provide Employee Health Promotion Programs to their workers. However, they may be the most in need of such services. Small businesses are the hardest hit by medical 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 Health Promotion Programs in small businesses also makes sense because small firms employ the majority of working citizens.

Regardless of the size of a business, Employee Health Promotion Programs can pay. Statistically, even if there are only 100 people in a business:

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% 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 Employee Health Promotion Program Benefits

At least one quarter of the healthcare 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 Health Promotion Programs can:

Decrease healthcare costs

Decrease workers´ compensation claims

Decrease worker absenteeism

Increase worker productivity

Improve worker morale

The bottom line is that Employee Health Promotion Programs can benefit any size business — small or large.