Do More Healthy Workers Create A Better Workplace?

| Wednesday, October 16, 2013
By George Dodson


Earning for a living is the primary purpose of employment for us. We all have different jobs. A few of these jobs involve working in offices and others outside. Most of us work a nine to five. Then there are daytime jobs and also nighttime. What may people who study these things know for sure is that a healthy person is a better employee.

The big question arises, is it cost effective?

An example is the multnational Amway, which employs 3900 locals. The company says that for every dollar it spends on fitness for employees, it gets two dollars back in savings. How do they justify that? Most employees who have participated in their wellness plan have lowered their medical and drug claims by eight percent. Many of them become slimmer and fitter. A lady employee claimed that in 18 months, she reduced 85 pounds. She has more energy than ever and that definitely translates to a quality work atmosphere for both her and the company. Most companies agree that it takes up to three years to realize cost savings from a program that employees undertake. They say it takes time for employees to learn new behaviors.

It is also come to notice that the health expenditure of those employees who do not take part in such fitness program rose up to 23 percent.

Flexco is another firm which has taken the initiative to implement such health oriented program for their employees. This program become very successful and the company was able to gain an amount close to a hundred thousand dollars just by reduced premium costs. The bottom line is that this program is very effective. In addition, the company helps pay the employee deductibles.

As an incentive, the employees earn wellness points when they join this program. This will help them reduce their expenditure on health costs by about 850 dollars. This acts as an incentive for the employees to get enrolled in this. This would also ensure that the employee joins it willingly and not by way of any force.

They can combine this program with the overall goals of the company. This would benefit the company in many ways. They have healthy people who are willing to stay healthy and combine that with the goals of the company. Furthermore, it also enhances the working atmosphere of the company.

One employee was unhappy because he had to get a physical until the doctor discovered a serious problem and was able to correct it before it got worse.

It is evident from all this that it is the it would be definitely beneficial for the company in the long run, if they encourage the employees to stay fit, either on their own, or with the help of the company. Other companies have had success giving their employees free membership to weright watchers online. The examples shows that you can significantly lower the bottom line when you have healthier employees. This makes for a better workplace.




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