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Workplace Wellness: What It Can Do for You

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Workplace Wellness: What It Can Do for You Workplace Wellness: What It Can Do for You Provided by: Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group Workplace wellness affects your What Wellness Can Do company—and its finances—in several Wellness programs positively impact ways. Wellness programs have the productivity and finances in several Because potential to lower health care costs, ways, all leading to a more efficient, employees increase productivity, decrease cost-effective workforce. absenteeism and raise employee spend a large morale. The following is a list of ways workplace portion of their wellness programs can improve your Because employees spend a large waking hours at business. portion of their waking hours at work, the work, the workplace is an ideal setting to address Control coverage costs. Health care workplace is an health and wellness issues, benefiting costs are a significant portion of a your employees’ personal lives as well company’s budget, and many employers ideal setting to as their professional lives. are taking a close look at those rising address health expenses, especially with the effects of and wellness What Is Workplace recent health care law changes. issues. Wellness? Strategically targeting health-related expenses can significantly benefit an Workplace wellness refers to the employer’s budget. educational resources and health programs that a worksite might offer to Employees with more health risk factors, promote healthy lifestyles for employees including being overweight, smoking and and their families. having diabetes, cost more to insure and pay more for health care than people Examples of wellness initiatives include with fewer risk factors. A wellness health education classes, subsidized use program can help employees with high of fitness facilities, internal policies that risk factors make lifestyle changes to promote healthy behavior, and any other improve their quality of life and lower activities, policies or environmental costs, while also helping employees with changes that affect the health of fewer risk factors remain healthy. employees. © 2014 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved. Workplace Wellness: What It Can Do for You Improve productivity. The U.S. Centers and benefits paid out, but also on the for Disease Control and Prevention cost of recruiting and training a new (CDC) supports research that worker to temporarily replace an Employees who demonstrates that workplace wellness employee who is absent due to ill health. programs can lead to more efficiency in experience the workplace because healthier The CDC’s compilation of research positive employees are more productive. Even suggests that employers can save as changes and when sick or unhealthy employees show much as 25 percent on claims costs after up to work, they’re likely not operating at implementing a successful workplace benefits from a their true potential. wellness program. wellness Improved health—fueled by workplace Boost morale and improve recruiting. program will wellness programs and incentives—can Expressing a commitment to your often feel more reduce the problem of presenteeism, employees’ health can improve which is a condition where workers show employee morale and strengthen loyalty to the up but produce inefficient or substandard retention. A company that cares about its company and work due to the adverse effects of their ill employees' health is often viewed as a demonstrate health. better place to work, and wellness programs can also help attract top talent increased Reduce absenteeism. Healthier in a competitive market. productivity. employees means fewer sick days and less time away from work for doctor Employees can experience many visits. For example, the CDC reports that potential benefits after joining a wellness overweight and obese employees miss program, including improved well-being, considerably more days of work than better coping skills for stress, reduced normal-weight employees—a 56 percent risk for developing or worsening increase in missed days for overweight diseases and illnesses, lower health care and obese men, and a 15 to 141 percent costs and fewer doctor visits, access to increase in missed days for women who social support through co-workers and a are overweight and obese, respectively. healthier work environment. Additionally, employees’ healthier Overall, employees who experience behavior may translate into better health positive changes and benefits from a care and lifestyle choices for their wellness program will often feel more families, potentially leading to less work loyalty to the company and demonstrate missed due to caring for ill family increased productivity, leading to a members. Reduced absenteeism can stronger, less expensive workforce. yield significant cost savings and return To learn more about workplace wellness on your wellness investment. programs and their benefits, to gain Trim workers’ compensation and access to ready-to-go wellness disability expenses. Employees who programs or to obtain information on Sentinel Benefits & Financial make healthy changes and lower health how to get started, contact Sentinel Group risks have a lower chance of workplace Benefits & Financial Group at 781-914- 100 Quannappowitt Pkwy., Suite 300 injury or illness and disability. In both 1200 or visit Wakefield, MA 01880 cases, this can save the employer https://www.sentinelgroup.com/. money, not just on insurance premiums P | 781-914-1200 F | 781-213-6744 https://www.sentinelgroup.com/ .
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