Smokers take an
average of almost 11
days more of sick leave
every year than their
non-smoking colleagues.
Tobacco Control Journal
Chronic diseases such as
heart disease, stroke,
cancer and diabetes are
among the most
prevalent, costly and
preventable of all
health problems and
account for more than
75% of the nation’s
medical care costs.
Centers for Disease
Control
55% of adults in
California are
overweight or obese.
California Health
Interview Survey
40% of all cancers are
caused by the typical
American diet, lack of
exercise and obesity.
Harvard Report on Cancer
Prevention
78% of Americans do not
meet activity level
recommendations.
Wellness International
Network LTD
A Duke University study
comparing the costs of
the heaviest to those of
recommended weight found
the number of lost
workdays was almost 13
times higher, medical
claims costs were 7
times higher, and
indemnity claims cost
were 11 times higher.
Archives of Internal
Medicine
Top 5 Myths of a
Corporate Wellness Program
1. Why bother?
National Health Care
will be implemented
shortly. Should a
national healthcare
program be enacted, it
will not affect
productivity,
absenteeism, team
building or employee
engagement - all of
which are positively
affected by the
implementation of a
Corporate Wellness
Program.
2. Our company is too
small. Small companies
are generally at a
disadvantage as big
companies usually offer
higher salaries, better
benefits and more
opportunities for
promotion. However,
programs like this can
actually even out the
playing field. Corporate
Wellness Programs
usually have a huge
effect on employee
retention as they foster
employees bonding with
other employees, thereby
helping to retain key
workers.
3. It takes too long to
see ROI. While it can
take two or three years
to see a meaningful
return on healthcare
expenses, 80% of the
benefits to an
employee’s health occurs
in the first 20% of
their progress! In a
good program, employers
see impressive
productivity gains/
absenteeism results
(47.5% drop in
absenteeism over a
six-year period for
participants in the
DuPont wellness
program). On a positive
note ALL health &
wellness programs
through the National
Health Bureau are
complimentary. There
will never be an out of
pocket expense to
participate.
4. We already have a
disease management
component in our health
insurance program. A
disease management
program is not the same
as a wellness program. A
wellness program is a
proactive and preventive
initiative to improve
the health of all
employees. A disease
management program is a
defensive program that
manages chronic
claimants who are
already ill.
5. I don’t want to spend
any money on a corporate
wellness program. The
dynamic of individual or
team achievement is
often times more than the
tangible dollar value of
the rewards that drive
results. Done right,
bragging rights and a
movie ticket or
Starbucks gift card can
go along way.
