Has there been an increase in the number of companies investing in wellness programs?
The work force wellness management movement gained considerable momentum in 2009. The Society for Human Resource Management reports that one-fifth of all employers — and almost half of the larger employers — use health and wellness management incentives. On average, 62 percent of all companies offer a wellness program. An increasing number of smaller employers — 42 percent — are also offering some type of wellness program.
Very large employers are also increasingly willing to reward employees who demonstrate responsibility for their health. Nearly a fourth of the larger employers — 23 percent, up from 17 percent in 2008 — vary employees’ premium contributions based on their smoker status.
What would you say to an employer who says that starting a worksite wellness program is too expensive?
Successful workplace health interventions don’t always need to be big-budget affairs. Most health insurers have a variety of health resources to make it easier for employers to start their own wellness program.
For example, some insurers offer a comprehensive wellness program to businesses of all sizes at no extra cost. These programs include an online Health Risk Assessment, which provides for customized member and aggregate employer reporting. They also offer an online wellness toolkit so that employers can download and print a variety of wellness materials, such as posters and brochures, and offer articles that they can e-mail to their employees.
Such programs may also offer 100 percent coverage for the cost of approved health education programs through local hospitals and organizations, plus discounts on fitness club memberships and other wellness items, all at no cost to the employer.
Ask your health insurer about integrating worksite wellness and benefit plan design through consumer-directed health plans. These lifestyle-driven plans reward healthy living. One study found that employees in consumer-directed programs are 25 percent more likely to engage in healthy behavior and 20 percent more likely to participate in wellness initiatives.
Several excellent Web sites provide free information for employers. Welcoa, welcoa.org/freeresources, provides employee presentations, incentive campaigns, free reports, and much more. Wellness Proposals at wellnessproposals.com is also a good place to start, as is the American Journal of Health Promotion at healthpromotionjournal.com.
Every little bit counts. The most cost-conscious program can help create a health-positive environment. When the goals are well defined and the approach is well designed, success can be affordable. Furthermore, worksite health programs that appear to have only a modest, immediate result are of great value. Not only will they improve performance and the satisfaction of current employees, good health and fitness programs tend to attract good applicants.
Dr. John Wallendjack is vice president of medical affairs for HealthAmerica. Reach him at [email protected].
