Corporate Wellness Programs for Small Businesses

Studies suggest that for every $1 invested in Corporate Wellness Programs, a company saves $3 to $5 in health and safety costs. Companies that invest in Corporate Wellness Programs reap the financial rewards through savings on health care costs, disability pay, rates of absenteeism, turnover and safety problems.

worksites have already proven to be a great place to promote wellness. After all, people spend more time at work than doing anything else. Eighty-two percent of the U.S. population is linked in some way to a worksite. Therefore, providing Corporate Wellness Programs is a great way to reach a substantial number of people in your area.

Corporate Wellness Programs in Small Businesses

Unlike large businesses, small businesses often lack the resources to provide Corporate Wellness Programs to their employees. However, they may be the most in need of such services. Small businesses are the hardest hit by health insurance costs and have the highest rates of substance abuse. Employee well-being and physical or mental illness can also be more disruptive in a small business environment. Corporate Wellness Programs in small businesses also makes sense because small firms employ the majority of working citizens.

Regardless of the size of a business, Corporate Wellness Programs can pay. Statistically, even if there are only 100 people in a company:

• 60 sit all day to do their work
• 50 don’t wear their safety belts regularly
• 50 feel they’re under moderate stress
• 35 are overweight by 20 percent or more
• 30 smoke
• 27 have cardiovascular disease
• 25 or more have high cholesterol (over 200 mg/dl)
• 10 are heavy drinkers
• 10 have high blood pressure
• 5 have diagnosed diabetes and another 5 have undiagnosed diabetes
• 7 use marijuana
• 1 uses cocaine

Bottom Line Corporate Wellness Program Benefits

At least one quarter of the health care costs incurred by working adults can be attributed to modifiable health risks (e.g., diet, exercise, tobacco use, etc.) Fortunately, there is a way to hold back the trend. Growing research links an individual’s lifestyle behaviors to their health risk.

The good news is Corporate Wellness Programs can:

• Lower health care costs
• Lower workers’ compensation claims
• Lower employee rates of absenteeism
• Increase worker productivity
• Improve employee morale

The bottom line is that Corporate Wellness Programs can benefit any size business — small or large.