Several studies have concluded that well-designed workplace health promotion programs can improve the health of employees and save money for employers instituting these programs. For example:

• • A review by the Community Guide Task Force found that well-designed workplace wellness programs exerted a positive influence on a number of health behaviors (e.g., smoking, diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and seat belt use), biometric measures (e.g., blood pressure and cholesterol levels), and financial outcomes important to employers (e.g., health care utilization and worker productivity).¹⁸
  • A meta-analysis by Chapman summarized results from 56 qualifying financial impact studies conducted over the past two decades and concluded that participants in workplace health promotion programs had 25-30% lower medical and absenteeism expenditures than non-participants.¹⁹
  • A widely cited meta-analysis of the literature on costs and savings associated with workplace wellness programs, researchers from Harvard University found the medical costs return on investment (ROI) to be $3.27 for every dollar spent and the absenteeism ROI to be $2.73 for every dollar spent.²⁰

Enjoy the new culture that this effective employee wellness program can create. What starts as a business strategy to control employee-related expenses can evolve into a culturally-driven transformation within your organization that encourages employees to have healthier lives. What starts as a pursuit of a greater return on investment can turn into a realization that there’s tremendous value in having healthy, happy employees.

Discover the true value of having a healthy, vibrant, and productive workforce.