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Corporate Health Promotion Programs: An Attainable Goal

Was Wellness on your company’s new year’s resolutions list? Here we are a little over midway into the third month of 2008, the time when resolutions start to falter if they haven’t lost momentum completely. Has your Worksite’s wellness resolution fallen by the wayside? If so, there are still ways to get back on track.

One Wellness tip comes to us from the YMCA of Greater Des Moines, reported from the Jersey Shore. Rod Shirk, the YMCA’s chief financial officer, participated in the organization’s first executive Corporate Health Promotion Program, which registered his cholesterol as higher than normal. That prompted him to get a physical, which showed high levels of a prostate-specific antigen that often indicates prostate cancer. The outcome? His doctors caught a life-threatening illness just in time.

Thanks Corporate Health Promotion Program.

So of course, Shirk is a huge proponent of Corporate Health Promotion Programs. He says, “For us here at the YMCA, if we are telling people to be healthy, we had better set a good example for our staff members.”

Wellness Decreases Health Care Costs

Though cases like Shirk’s dramatic cancer save are the most desirable effect of Corporate Health Promotion Programs, it isn’t the initial draw for organizations. They do it to lower medical care costs, and there’s no doubt that Corporate Health Promotion Programs do just that. Company Wellness Program Statistics show that Corporate Health Promotion Programs return anywhere from $2.30 to $10.10 per dollar spent on wellness. “Health care costs should go down as people think about changing their diets and getting more active,” Shirk says.

The Company Wellness Program savings aren’t just in the Medical Insurance department. Human resource departments report that Corporate Health Promotion Programs also reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.

Still, corporations have been loath to invest that elusive Wellness dollar despite the well-documented returns. A Principal Financial Group and Harris Interactive survey found that only 10% of small- to medium-size organizations have made worksite Health Screenings – like the one that saved Shirk’s life – available to their staff members.

Is It Necessary to Incent Organizations to Initiate Corporate Health Promotion Programs?

Wellness incentive rewards may seem like an effective way to get staff members excited about Company Wellness Program – but is it wise?

This helps and encourages organizations to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy staff members, not only for the welfare of its staff members, but as well as the welfare of the company bottom line … then, yes, it could be necessary.

Tax Breaks as Wellness incentive rewards

In 2007, two senators decided to band together to create the “Healthy Workforce Act.” This act is designed to encourage organizations to keep staff members healthy and prevent disease. The senators believed that having a country focused on “well care” versus “sick care” would decrease the overall costs of medical care for everyone. They decided to start with America’s staff members.

The legislation, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, notes that corporations would receive a Wellness incentive reward – a fifty percent tax credit – if they offer to their staff members a Company Wellness Program that meets the following criteria:

1) A health education and awareness component, which could include Health Risk Assessments / Health Risk Appraisals and Health Screenings.
2) A behavioral change component – such as counseling, seminars, or self-help materials to empower staff members to lead healthier lifestyles.
3) A supportive environment component – including offering meaningful incentive rewards to taking part in staff members, such as a reduction in health premiums or allowing staff members to engage in walking Corporate Health Promotion Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an employee engagement committee – which would tailor the Company Wellness Program to the needs of the staff members at a particular company.

If this legislation gets passed, many organizations will be scrambling to offer Corporate Health Promotion Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentive rewards.

Worksite Obesity: The Facts

Worksite obesity has become one of the fastest growing medical care problems in America. It is well known that America is considered one of the, if not “the”, fattest nations in the world. This is largely in part due to fast food, un-healthy snacks and a very sedentary lifestyle. However, what many people are not aware of is that the rate of obesity in our country has doubled in the last 30 years and this weighs heavily on a company’s bottom line.

According to a new report from The Conference Board, Weights and Measures: What corporations Should Know about Obesity, obese staff members cost private organizations an estimated $45 billion annually. Following are some of the report’s findings:

Obesity is associated with a 36% increase in spending on medical care, more than smoking or problem drinking.
34% of adult U.S citizens fit the definition of “obese”
Obesity related health problems are costing United States corporations millions of dollars annually in medical expenditures and work loss.

Worksite Obesity: How organizations Can Help

With the increase in obesity and corporation costs associated with it, it is more and more imperative to develop a way to assist staff members with their healthy living choices. Corporate Health Promotion Programs can help organizations help their staff members. By offering assistance with Health Screening, Health Risk Assessments / Health Risk Appraisals and by conducting Company Wellness Program surveys; Corporate Health Promotion Programs allow the corporation non-invasive ways to communicate their concerns about their employee’s health.

We suggest establishing a Walking Company Wellness Program to assist your staff members in meeting their weight-loss goals. Walking Wellness is a program designed to get your staff members away from their desk and get them outside for a little physical activity. Keep it fun by having contests, setting up weight-loss teams and having organized healthy picnics.

What is a Company Wellness Program Proposal?

You probably have seen the term many times and wondered what exactly does it mean. A Company Wellness Program Proposal is a proposal put together by a wellness consultant that makes suggestions for what type of Corporate Health Promotion Programs you should choose, what tools you will need to accomplish your corporation’s wellness goals, and costs associated with it.

Company Wellness Program Proposals Assist Human Resource Departments

A Company Wellness Program Proposal is a great thing to have in hand when HR Departments go to upper management to request funding for a Corporate Health Promotion Program. It will offer necessary stats and trends, background information, and costs that will enable the HR Department to fully present their case. Upper management will appreciate the preparedness and the research that has gone into your wellness request.

Company Wellness Program Proposals Lead to Better Corporate Health Promotion Programs

A well thought out Company Wellness Program Proposal can lead to a better Corporate Health Promotion Program, because the building blocks will already be in place. Company Wellness Program Proposals will guarantee that your corporation gets the proper Company Wellness Program established. Corporate Health Promotion Programs can vary greatly, but when your staff members ask, you can tell them that they generally include the following:

Walking programs which offers staff members with incentive rewards to take their walking breaks at their worksite.
Company teams, workplace yoga classes and massage therapists at the worksite.
Nutrition advice, weight-loss and healthy cooking classes, stress management sessions, and either a Company Wellness Program resources column in the employee newsletter or a wellness newsletter.
Stairwell initiatives to show how stair-walking can enhance health.

Wellness Competitions Are Popping Up Everywhere

Wellness Competitions are definitely hot right now and they are encouraging more and more people to get healthy and live better. Whether it is a city or a school or a social group or even a whole state, competitive spirits are being ignited by the challenge to be the healthiest team. The Wellness Competitions are usually about a six months to a year in length and they are made up of several teams, these teams all get points for physical activity, selecting healthy foods, and just making better life and health choices overall.

The best part about Wellness Competitions is even though there really is only way “real” winner; everyone that participates in the challenge is a life winner.

Wellness Competitions offers incentive reward to Get Healthy

Establishing a Wellness Competitions in your office is a great way to get staff members to participate in your established Corporate Health Promotion Program. Have staff members form teams and receive points for everything from attending a company Health and Wellness Fair to getting a health risk assessment to beginning an physical activity regimen. At the end of the year, the teams will win prizes based on the number of points they have accumulated.

Wellness Competitions Improve Corporate Health

Not only will Wellness Competitions enhance the health of your staff members, it will enhance the overall health of the corporation by offering benefits such as fewer injuries, worker’s comp claims, reduced medical care costs, better employee attendance, and better company morale.

Like we said earlier, everyone is a winner in a Wellness Competitions!

The 61st annual World Health Assembly is taking place this week in Geneva, Switzerland and at this assembly; the World Health Organization (WHO) is presenting its report titled “Preventing Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) in the Workplace through Diet and Physical Activity.”

The report calls for Corporate Health Promotion Programs to be promoted and implemented worldwide.

Importance of Corporate Health Promotion Programs

The report notes that Non-Communicable Disease related deaths have surpassed transferable disease related deaths and have become the leading global killers. Examples of Non-Communicable Disease’s are heart disease, diabetes and stroke. In 2005, 60% of worldwide projected deaths were caused by non-communicable diseases. They are predicting that this health trend will continue through at least 2030.

Diet, caloric intake, lack of physical activity and tobacco use are the major risk factors in the cause of Non-Communicable Disease’s. Now more than ever, the understanding of the importance of health and wellness is crucial.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs are Effective Tools

The report notes that Corporate Health Promotion Programs are found to be effective in improving health-related risk factors, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The report also notes that Corporate Health Promotion Programs will enhance the health of staff members, enhance the company image, enhance employee morale, reduce employee absences and sick leave, increase employee productivity, and reduce company medical care expenses.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs Monitoring

Finally, the report mentions that to have a successful Corporate Health Promotion Program, monitoring and evaluation through Health Risk Assessments / Health Risk Appraisals and health outcomes are critical and should be included in the Company Wellness Program implementation. The evaluations ensure that the Company Wellness Program developed meets the proper needs of the staff members. Workers should be reevaluated on an on-going basis to make sure the Company Wellness Program is still working, or to see if there are any adjustments that need to be made.

Company Wellness Program ROI: Fact or Fiction?

Corporate Health Promotion Programs … do they offer a strong return on investment? This is a question that we are sure goes through ever company’s mind. HR Magazine addresses the Company Wellness Program ROI topic in their June 2008 issue.

Company Wellness Program ROI: The Bottom Line

According to the article, titled “Finding Wellness’ Return on Investment,” determining Company Wellness Program ROI is not an easy thing to do for corporations because it involves a lot of different variables and time.

However, the organizations that have taken the time to determine the Company Wellness Program ROI of their Corporate Health Promotion Programs have found that it is quite significant. Not to mention, the Wellness program’s effect on the improvement of employee health and the slowing of the rate of their employee medical care expenses.

Company Wellness Program ROI Alliance

Company Wellness Program ROI is such an important aspect of today’s company culture, that several large organizations have come together to form the Alliance for Wellness ROI, Inc. According to the HR Magazine article, The Alliance for Wellness ROI was specifically created to address the lack of consistency in proving the value of Corporate Health Promotion Programs.

The alliance, formed by Henry Ford Health Systems, BMW of North America, Kraft Foods Global, Schlumberger Limited and MasterCare Worldwide, strongly believes in showing the value of Corporate Health Promotion Programs and want to develop a standard for how Corporate Health Promotion Programs are measured.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs Components

According the alliance, the following components should make up an company-offered employee Corporate Health Promotion Program:

Employee assistance Programs (EAPs)
Disease Management Program
Fitness and physical activity Programs
Health Risk Assessments / Health Risk Appraisals
On-Site medical care Programs
Personal wellness profiles
Preventive Health Screenings and immunizations
Smoking-cessation Programs
Telephone based Corporate Health Promotion Programs
Weight loss and weight management Programs
Self-Care Programs.

Wellness During the Summer Time

Wellness is important all year long; however if your staff members haven’t gotten on the Wellness bandwagon, then now is the perfect time to get them there.

Summer Time is an ideal time of year to get back into shape and enhance overall Wellness.  The weather is beautiful, staff members can get outside and they are motivated by the thought of having to wear clothes with less coverage.  Fitness, or lack of physical fitness, is apparent in the summer.

Wellness in the Summer Time has Advantages

There are many advantages to beginning a Company Wellness Program in the Summer Time.  Employees are more likely to get outside and walk or participate in group activities during the summer than they are in the cooler months of the fall and winter.  The summer months are also a great time to start a Wellness challenge with your staff members and celebrate the completion of the challenge with a participant picnic or cookout.  Finally, it always seems easier to eat healthy during the summer with all the fresh vegetables and fruits that are available during this time.

Company Wellness Program Kick-off

We recommend following these steps when starting a Company Wellness Program in your office.

Pick a coordinator for the Company Wellness Program who is willing and able to see it through.
Ensure that you have the support of company leadership.
Formulate a Wellness committee
Make use of a Company Wellness Program survey to uncover the obstacles and goals of your Company Wellness Program
Provide Health Risk Assessments / Health Risk Appraisals
Analyze the Company Wellness Program and changes as needed
Do not forget to stress that the Company Wellness Program is for the workers.  Corporate Health Promotion Programs have been found to prevent obesity, cancer, heart disease and hypertension.  Taking part in in a Company Wellness Program that offers all that should be an easy decision for the corporation and for the staff members.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs and Health Care Costs

Corporate Health Promotion Programs are more important now than ever.  According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, with the troubles in the economy it seems that the costs of corporation offered medical care keep continuing to grow and it doesn’t seem like it is going to change.  The article notes that during the year 2008, United States organizations can expect to see an increase of 10% in medical care costs.

This increase in medical care costs is causing some small organizations to reduce their employee health benefits or get rid of them altogether.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs for Healthier Lifestyles

Corporate Health Promotion Programs do offer an option for small organizations.  The corporations can offer discounted co-pays and deductibles to those staff members that fully participate in the offered Corporate Health Promotion Program.  Full participation means getting health screens, receiving a health risk assessment, and then working with their wellness coordinator to work towards a healthier lifestyle.

The healthier the staff members, the lower the overall medical care costs for the corporation.  Just one lengthy hospital stay can almost deplete a small business’ medical care budget.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs and Your Bottom Line

Corporate Health Promotion Programs offer many advantages to a company’s bottom-line. Company Wellness Program Statistics from Prudential Insurance show a benefit expense of $312 per person enrolled in a Company Wellness Program compared to an expense of $574 per employee that wasn’t enrolled.  Coors Brewing Company showed a positive side-effect of participant absenteeism dropping by 18%, thus greater production and less medical care costs overall.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs are an excellent investment, at least according to Lincoln industries in Nebraska.  CNN reported on this 565 employee company their committed investment in their employee’s wellness.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs are part of company Culture

The Corporate Health Promotion Programs, according the story, has been in place for 16 years at Lincoln, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.  The company has three full-time staff members dedicated to the Company Wellness Program and the wellness of the staff members, who receive worksite massages and a round of instructor-led stretching before they start their shifts.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs Assessed

According to CNN, one of the stipulations of the Corporate Health Promotion Program, which staff members are not mandated to participate in, is that they receive quarterly checkups where assessments are completed on their weight, amount of body fat and flexibility.  Based on these health assessments, the staff members are then ranked from platinum all the way down to “non-medal”.  To become platinum level, where you receive a company-paid climbing trip, you must achieve certain physical fitness levels and be a non-smoker.  Smoking cessation classes are part of the Corporate Health Promotion Program.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs Bring a Big Savings

The Company Wellness Program has been a wise investment for Lincoln Industries.  By having healthier staff members, they have seen an average of $2 million in savings in medical care costs per year.  The savings don’t stop there, since instituting a Corporate Health Promotion Program, workers’ compensation claims have gone from $500,000 per year down to less than $10,000 per year.