Corporate Health Promotion Programs: A Long-Term Committment

“Corporate Health Promotion Programs” – what does that phrase mean to you? To many of us, it evokes an array of ambivalent thoughts — the fitness center membership we barely used, the nagging ankle injury from last year’s company picnic, the backaches, the bratwurst we had for lunch, the love handles and of course, the fad diets that failed us or that we failed. Usually, Corporate Health Promotion Programs is a guilt trigger that causes us to feel remorse about our bodies and the health management we know we should be doing for them.

Unfortunately we live in a society where our survival is dependent on sitting at a desk, not hunting game, picking berries and sprinting away from wolves. We also live in such luxury, nutritionally, that we can gain weight steadily without being wealthy. Cardiovascular disease, obesity and bad nutrition cause the majority of of the heath issues that weigh down staff member attendance and erode a company’s productivity.

Ironically the poorest societies in the world – the ones furthest from the conveniences of modern life – often have the fittest, most physically hardy members. And as for the animal kingdom — don’t look there for commiseration. In the wild, it is extremely rare to find an animal that suffers from our kind of wellness issues.

Prescription Drug dependency degrades Health and Wellness

It doesn’t help that Americans are descending into a deadly love affair with drugs — and drug testing won’t help you with these drugs.

For example, Greg Critser’s book Generation RX details how Americans spend about $180 billion dollars on Prescription Drugs annually, with the estimated 2011 tally at a whopping $414 billion. The average number of Prescription Drugs per U.S citizen in 2004 stood at twelve.

Twelve! That means that your average staff member is taking 14, 18, or even more than 20 medications in an attempt to improve their Health and Wellness.

Is this effective, though? Critser is not convinced that the prescription medications help United States health. In fact, he points out a bevy of negative consequences for America’s legal drug addition, which include drug interactions, liver damage, and the legions of people who now depend on prescription medications to deal with ordinary trials and stresses.

An organization has the potential to improve Health

It’s not all bad news, though. Occupational Health Screening and Biometric Testings and well-designed Corporate Health Promotion Programs can help you fight the downward spiral for you and your staff members. In fact, good Corporate Health Promotion Programs – like a strong walking Corporate Health Promotion Programs initiative – can literally save lives and reduce the symptoms that cause workers to turn to prescription medications in the first place.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs – Employee Engagement Strategies

Corporate Health Promotion Programs without employee engagement are useless to a company. How do you get workers to enroll in Corporate Health Promotion Programs – and stay engaged in the programs?

The materials for these programs discuss the benefits to workers and companies. Corporate Health Promotion Plan statistics show that there are tangible benefits to a company for offering such programs. Corporate Health Promotion Programs actually do save lives by getting workers to take their health seriously, increase productivity, decrease absenteeism and more.

However, St. Louis, Missouri-based Maritz Inc., the world’s largest incentive company, has applied their own invigorating twist to health management by providing gift rewards to workers who participate in Corporate Health Promotion Programs. The wellness incentive reward program is Maritz’s own Exclusively Yours® plan. Health management participants earn points, which can be then redeemed for merchandise, electronics, restaurant vouchers and travel, much like a frequent-flier program.

Enrollment incentive rewards in Corporate Health Promotion Programs?

Undoubtably companies that don’t work in the incentive rewards industry will be tempted to cry foul about using such a rich carrot to incentivize health program enrollments. Not every company can throw that kind of money at health management resources – and not every company has the built-in savings as a business that specializes in providing incentive reward programs.

For certain rich incentive rewards like Maritz’s will break through the glaze that appears over many workers’ eyes when they’re encouraged to do something new, different or challenging. For many workers uncomfortable with health management and physical activity, “new, different and challenging” would apply to Corporate Health Promotion Programs. So where does that leave companies who are unwilling or unable to provide incentive rewards for health management program enrollment?

Successful Corporate Health Promotion Programs motivate workers – before and after signup

Corporate Health Promotion Plan administrators should keep the long-term view in mind when trying to get workers to take that critical first step. Even the best incentive rewards can fail in the face of faltering organization, badly-designed Corporate Health Promotion Programs and wavering support. Make sure to run good Wellness surveys before you build your Corporate Health Promotion Programs so staff member input and needs are being met by your Corporate Health Promotion Programs. The goal is positive outcomes, not high enrollment numbers.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs cannot survive managerial apathy. If executive and managerial participation is widespread and heartfelt, workers will follow their leadership. The potential rewards and Wellness benefits are clearly worth reaping, for both your organization and your co-workers.

Wellness might be the fatal flaw in your Corporate Health Promotion Program. Is Wellness part of your strategy? Does worksite wellness stop when your workers leave the office?

Wellness Continuity

If workers don’t have the tools to pursue health and wellness on a Individual level, then it becomes easy for them to “fall off the wagon” and slide back into a unealthy lifestyles. If you have a walking program, for example, it should encourage workers to build walking routes near their homes, perhaps with the cooperation of the neighborhood association or coworkers who live in the neighborhood.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs: Always on Your Mind

Your Corporate Health Promotion Plan coordinator should have “vacation wellbeing” as part of their job description. In other words, you don’t want a Corporate Health Promotion Plan to stop at the boundaries of the worksite campus. Instead, integrate Individual health and wellness with your Corporate Health Promotion Programs.

This will benefit the Corporate Health Promotion Programs in two ways:

it reduces the chance that the staff member will come back to the office feeling unfit, overwhelmed and unable to resume their Corporate Health Promotion Programs; and
it shows that their organization is just as invested in their Individual health and wellness as they are

Like a marathon, Individual health and wellness is a long-term commitment and it’s challenging for anyone to do in isolation. Simply put, it’s easier to maintain your state of health when you know others are depending on you and watching your Individual performance. It’s easier to stick to an physical activity program when you have a jogging partner who wakes you up when you oversleep, or spots you when you’re lifting weights.

Similarly, it’s easier to stick to your Corporate Health Promotion Plan when you know your organization is supporting you and wishing you the best.

Don’t Dictate Individual Health

Just as Wellness surveys serve a vital function in building a Corporate Health Promotion Program, it’s critical that you involve workers in designing an off-site wellness strategy. No one enjoys being told what to do, but everyone enjoys having assistance in tacking tough problems. Make it clear that workers are in charge of their own health and wellness. Your role as their health management partner is to support, advise, counsel, provide resources and information.

Of course, don’t forget that part of Individual health and wellness responsibility is to provide good health risk assessment baselines so workers can proceed safely on the road to better fitness.

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 workers.”

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 companies. They do it to lower health care costs, and there’s no doubt that Corporate Health Promotion Programs do just that. Corporate Health Promotion Plan 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 Corporate Health Promotion Plan savings aren’t just in the Health Insurance department. Human resource departments report that Corporate Health Promotion Programs also reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.

Still, companies 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 companies have made onsite Health Screening and Biometric Testings – like the one that saved Shirk’s life – available to their workers.

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 improve the health of workers, improve the corporate image, improve staff member morale, reduce staff member absences and sick leave, increase staff member productivity, and reduce corporate health care costs.

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 Corporate Health Promotion Plan implementation. The evaluations ensure that the Corporate Health Promotion Plan developed meets the proper needs of the workers. Staff Members should be reevaluated on an on-going basis to make sure the Corporate Health Promotion Plan is still working, or to see if there are any adjustments that need to be made.

Wellness During the Summer

Wellness is important year-round; however if your workers haven’t gotten on the Wellness bandwagon, then now is the perfect time to get them there.

Summer is an ideal season to get back into shape and improve overall Wellness. The weather is beautiful, workers can get outside and they are motivated by the thought of having to wear clothes with less coverage. Fitness, or lack of fitness, is apparent in the summer.

Wellness in the Summer has Advantages

There are many advantages to beginning a Corporate Health Promotion Plan in the Summer. 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 begin a Wellness challenge with your workers and celebrate the completion of the challenge with a member 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.

Corporate Health Promotion Plan Kick-off

We recommend following these steps when starting a Corporate Health Promotion Plan in your office.

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

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 organization offered health 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 companies can expect to see an increase of 10% in health care costs.

This increase in health care costs is causing some small companies to reduce their staff member health benefits or get rid of them altogether.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs for Healthier Lifestyles

Corporate Health Promotion Programs do provide an option for small companies. The corporations can provide discounted co-pays and deductibles to those workers that fully participate in the provided 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 workers, the lower the overall health care costs for the corporation. Just one lengthy hospital stay can almost deplete a small business’ health care budget.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs and Your Bottom Line

Corporate Health Promotion Programs provide many advantages to a company’s bottom-line. Corporate Health Promotion Plan Statistics from Prudential Insurance show a benefit expense of $312 per individual enrolled in a Corporate Health Promotion Plan compared to an expense of $574 per staff member that wasn’t enrolled. Coors Brewing Company showed a positive side-effect of member absenteeism dropping by 18%, thus greater production and less health 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 staff member’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 workers dedicated to the Corporate Health Promotion Plan and the wellness of the workers, who receive onsite 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 workers 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 workers 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 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 Corporate Health Promotion Plan has been a smart investment for Lincoln Industries. By having healthier workers, they have seen an average of $2 million in savings in health 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.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs Are Becoming Increasingly Popular

Corporate Health Promotion Programs are Are Becoming Increasingly popular outside the worksite, showing the ever-increasing importance of disease prevention and health risk management. Private insurance companies, as well as state Medicaid and Medicare offices are working on ways to improve the health of the people they insure in hopes to save money in the long run. They are finding that mini-Corporate Corporate Health Promotion Programs are definitely the way to go.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs Help with Early Intervention

According to an article that recently appeared in The Indianapolis Star, companies, insurers and government agencies are turning to “early intervention to alter the behavior of those struggling with common but dangerous health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart failure and coronary heart disease.”

The strategies that they used to improve their beneficiaries’ wellness postcard reminders for different lab tests or check-ups; and possibly even phone calls from nurses to work with the patients to make sure that they are taking their medicines properly and following the lifestyle changes that were suggested by their health care provider.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs Provide Quality Benefits

There are more benefits to a Corporate Health Promotion Plan than just the savings that an organization or a state agency will see; there is the benefit to the actually patient. The patient is going to get the motivation and the incentive reward to get better or to manage their health by having to answer to someone, whether that someone is a full-time wellness staff member at their company or a nurse affiliated with their insurance company.

Studies suggest that for every $1 invested in Corporate Health Promotion Programs, a business saves $3 to $5 in health and safety costs. Companies that invest in Corporate Health Promotion 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 Health Promotion Programs is a great way to reach a substantial number of people in your area.

Corporate Health Promotion Programs in Small Businesses

Unlike large companies, small companies frequently lack the resources to provide Corporate Health Promotion Programs to their staff members. 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. Worker well-being and physical or mental illness can also be more disruptive in a small business environment. Corporate Health Promotion Programs in small companies also makes sense because small firms employ the majority of working citizens.

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

• 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% 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 Health Promotion Plan 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 Health Promotion Programs can:

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

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