A 2010 Harvard Business Review Article had some astounding things to say about the ‘hard return’ of wellness programs. Their conclusion? Wellness program provide a terrific return on investment.
“…a comprehensive, strategically designed investment in employees social, mental, and physical health pays off. J&Js leaders estimate that wellness programs have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade; from 2002 to 2008, the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent.”
The article goes on to refer to a number of studies touting the benefits of wellness programs for your company. In a separate study, 57% of high-risk employees were converted to low-risk status, with significant financial benefits for the company:
“…medical claim costs had declined by $1,421 per participant, compared with those from the previous year. A control group showed no such improvements. The bottom line: Every dollar invested in the intervention yielded $6 in health care savings.”
But the companies surveyed saw a number of other improvements as well — not just on financial return. Lost work days, in one example, dropped by an astounding 80%. Another study found that a well-implemented wellness program caused a dramatic reduction in employee attrition. Clearly, taking an active stake in your employees’ wellness makes a difference in their health and happiness — and to your bottom line as well.
Find out what works and what doesn’t by walking programs for corporations to learn more about adding an engaging, effective walking challenge to your wellness program.