Benefits of Employee Health Promotion Programs
John Bates
September 29, 2008
Introduction to Employee Health Promotion Programs
Risky health behaviors by workers cost a company. Changing those behaviors can save the employer money and raise the worker´s productivity.
Because work gives an worker a stable environment and support system, Employee Health Promotion Programs can have a great impact on decreasing high-risk behaviors. This impact results in decrease health claims cost, less absenteeism, and less short-term disability.
Employee Health Promotion Programs may include:
Awareness Raising Activities: Health and wellness newsletters, health topics covered in payroll stuffers, healthy emails.
Health Risk Assessment: Employee health screenings, wellness fairs / health fairs, health risk appraisals.
Educational Programs: Lunch & Learn wellness presentations, guest speakers at staff meetings.
Skill Building: Healthy cooking demonstrations, activity challenges, CPR instruction opportunities, 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, well lit stairways.
Assessment: Employee needs assessment, baseline Employee Health Promotion Program evaluation measures, ongoing Employee Health Promotion Program evaluation of overall effectiveness.
Why Offer Employee Health Promotion Programs
The typical employer spends about $8,000 a year on an employee´s healthcare. 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 businesses using Employee 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 Employee Health Promotion Programs used. (S. Aldana, American Journal of Wellness, 2001; 15:296-320)
One study showed that a "stop smoking" component to Employee Health Promotion Programs may save between $404 -$40,829 per employee, depending on the age and sex of the worker.
The Employee Health Promotion Programs at Traveler´s Company included a self-care book, a newsletter, single-topic brochures, and videotapes. The Employee Health Promotion Programs saved the company $7.8 million in employee benefit costs, decreased doctor visits, and it decreased absenteeism by 1.2 days per worker per year. The estimated Employee 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 businesses for three years. Workers with an inactive lifestyle had 10% higher costs; workers with depression had 70% higher costs.
Benefits of Employee Health Promotion Programs
Increased Productivity - The Canada Life Assurance Company realized a 4% increase in productivity after creating an employee fitness program.
Increased Job Satisfaction - According to employee opinion surveys conducted by the Silverstone Group about their Employee Health Promotion Programs, workers´ morale increased, which helped support a more creative work environment.
Improved Recruitment & Retention - In the midst of a tight labor market, Employee Health Promotion Programs could be a vital tool to draw new recruits.
Decreased Absenteeism - Canada Life Assurance Company´s absenteeism dropped 42% among workers in the Employee 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 Medical Care Costs - Golden, Colorado Adolf Coors Company´s Employee Health Promotion Programs returned $6.19 for every dollar spent.
Risky health behaviors by workers cost a company. Changing those behaviors can save the employer money and raise the worker´s productivity.
Because work gives an worker a stable environment and support system, Employee Health Promotion Programs can have a great impact on decreasing high-risk behaviors. This impact results in decrease health claims cost, less absenteeism, and less short-term disability.
Employee Health Promotion Programs may include:
Awareness Raising Activities: Health and wellness newsletters, health topics covered in payroll stuffers, healthy emails.
Health Risk Assessment: Employee health screenings, wellness fairs / health fairs, health risk appraisals.
Educational Programs: Lunch & Learn wellness presentations, guest speakers at staff meetings.
Skill Building: Healthy cooking demonstrations, activity challenges, CPR instruction opportunities, 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, well lit stairways.
Assessment: Employee needs assessment, baseline Employee Health Promotion Program evaluation measures, ongoing Employee Health Promotion Program evaluation of overall effectiveness.
Why Offer Employee Health Promotion Programs
The typical employer spends about $8,000 a year on an employee´s healthcare. 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 businesses using Employee 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 Employee Health Promotion Programs used. (S. Aldana, American Journal of Wellness, 2001; 15:296-320)
One study showed that a "stop smoking" component to Employee Health Promotion Programs may save between $404 -$40,829 per employee, depending on the age and sex of the worker.
The Employee Health Promotion Programs at Traveler´s Company included a self-care book, a newsletter, single-topic brochures, and videotapes. The Employee Health Promotion Programs saved the company $7.8 million in employee benefit costs, decreased doctor visits, and it decreased absenteeism by 1.2 days per worker per year. The estimated Employee 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 businesses for three years. Workers with an inactive lifestyle had 10% higher costs; workers with depression had 70% higher costs.
Benefits of Employee Health Promotion Programs
Increased Productivity - The Canada Life Assurance Company realized a 4% increase in productivity after creating an employee fitness program.
Increased Job Satisfaction - According to employee opinion surveys conducted by the Silverstone Group about their Employee Health Promotion Programs, workers´ morale increased, which helped support a more creative work environment.
Improved Recruitment & Retention - In the midst of a tight labor market, Employee Health Promotion Programs could be a vital tool to draw new recruits.
Decreased Absenteeism - Canada Life Assurance Company´s absenteeism dropped 42% among workers in the Employee 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 Medical Care Costs - Golden, Colorado Adolf Coors Company´s Employee Health Promotion Programs returned $6.19 for every dollar spent.
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