Employer Physical Activity Programs Plans Improve Employee Health and Wellness
Instituting a Corporate Health Promotion Program improves the health of workers,
decreases employee absenteeism and saves the company money, too. Learn more
about starting an Corporate Health Promotion Program in the office.
Benefits of Corporate Health Promotion
- A company expenditure of $100-$150 per employee each year to participate
in an Corporate Health Promotion Program can save employers $300 to $450 for
each employee every year, according to Ron Goetzel, Director, Cornell University
Institute for Health and Productivity Studies. The savings have the potential
to take a few years to actualize, says Goetzel, and are seen in decreased
health expenditures. - The Wellness Councils of America reported a $24 return for every $1 invested
on a Corporate Health Promotion Program for small employers. - According to a 2005 survey by The Art of Health Promotion, employers who
instituted Corporate Health Promotion realized a 30 percent decline in healthcare
and absenteeism costs in less than 4 years.
A thriving Corporate Health Promotion Program starts with Senior Leadership.
Employer owners should lead by example, taking part in their company’s physical
activity program and working closely with a wellness coach. Senior Leadership
should make sure workers are well knowledgeable about their wellness efforts,
posting weight loss results or smoking cessation results on company intranet
or bulletin boards for everyone to see.
Corporate Health Promotion that Really Work
- Urge workers to kick start their own wellness programs by visiting their
doctor. A complete physical should include information about blood sugar,
cholesterol levels and general health. - Target specific health-related problems in a corporate physical activity
program. Information about how to fight obesity, smoking, alcoholism and prescription
drug abuse should be at the forefront of an Corporate Health Promotion Program,
along with related conditions. - Hire a wellness coach to instruct workers on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
- Reward workers for participating in company wellness plans. Let workers
accrue wellbeing and health points that they have the potential to redeem
for prizes. Make the prizes healthy, too- a no cost massage, personal training
session with the company’s wellness coach or health food gift certificate
encourages even healthier lifestyle choices. - Acknowledge employee wellbeing and health leaders in company newsletters,
in posted bulletins and on the company intranet.
Corporate Health Promotion Yield Big Results
For company owners who want to expand employee participation in a Corporate
Health Promotion Program, consider Johnson & Johnson’s approach. Faced
with only 26 percent of workers participating in their employee wellbeing and
health program, Johnson & Johnson offered workers a $500 discount on healthcare
insurance costs if they completed a health risk profile. The number of workers
participating in the Johnson & Johnson company physical activity program
jumped after they provided the incentive — to more than 93%.
Ron Goetzel encourages those looking to pitch a corporate physical activity
program to Senior Leadership to use basic facts about the benefits of Corporate
Health Promotion as part of their argument. Keep it simple, and share results
from other company’s employee wellness plan success stories.
