More and more businesses are realizing the importance and benefits of workplace wellness programs. While simply having a program in place is not out of the ordinary, only recently have businesses begun to realize the actual return on investment these programs can have. Wellness programs are no longer simply a line item managed by HR to attract prospective employees, but rather a comprehensive initiative designed to increase efficiency, reduce cost, and create a more productive work environment.
This fact will grab your attention: When you combine wage replacement, medical costs, and lost productivity, employee illness costs businesses $576 billion per year. One of the largest causes of increased illness, and one of the most preventable diseases – adult obesity – continues to be an epidemic. In the past 50 years, the average American has gained nearly 24 pounds. Luckily, thanks to increased wellness efforts, last year adult obesity remained level in every state except one (Arkansas).
Source: HallmarkBusinessConnections
