Employee Wellness Can Benefit Your Bottom Line

Not only is a wellness program beneficial for your employees’ waistlines, researchers now find that wellness initiatives can benefit your company’s bottom line as well. According to Risk and Insurance magazine, U.S. workers are now heavier than ever before. The direct costs of obesity are estimated at $75 billion with an additional $139 billion allocated for indirect costs.

Employers are responsible for $45 billion in medical expenses and excessive absenteeism costs as well. This is on top of workers’ compensation costs, which are typically significantly higher for obese workers than healthy weight individuals.

To assist your employees in getting healthy and consequently reducing their risk of workplace injury or illness consider implementing the following:

• Biometric screenings


• Health coaching


• Telephone and Internet-based health advisor


• Disease management programs with guidance from licensed professionals


• Mental health counseling and benefits


• Educational safety and health seminars


• Offer incentives to employees who reach health-related goals


• Offer monthly safety tips