POO! ..... by Art Rothafel

Here's the POO!  (Proof Of Opportunity)

Do you realize how effective and profitable corporate wellness programs can be?  Especially if you implement the education model!

Here are some interesting facts to support the opportunity. 

Studies repeatedly demonstrate that comprehensive worksite health promotion programs, or Corporate Wellness Programs, can lower health care and insurance costs, decrease absenteeism, and improve performance and productivity.

A 1996 review of 10 major studies reports cost/benefit ratios ranging from 1:2.05 to 1:5.96 with two very high return studies reporting ratios of 1:10.1 and 1:19.4. (this means for every $1 dollar spent, the company saved from $2.05 to $5.96 in health costs and in the high return cases up to $19.40 in cost savings). Other benefits demonstrated in studies include improved ability to attract and retain key personnel, greater employee allegiance, and improved public image of the company.

Health Care and Insurance Costs
A number of studies provide evidence of lower medical and insurance costs for participants in health promotion programs, particularly wellness programs involving exercise.

• For $30 per person, Bank of America conducted a health promotion program for retirees using a risk assessment questionnaire, self-care books and other mailed materials. Insurance claims were reduced an average of $164 per year in this group while they increased $15 for the control group.

• Pacific Bell’s FitWorks participants claim $300 less per case for a one year savings of $700,000. Savings for conditions related to a sedentary lifestyle are $722 per case.

• Coca Cola reported a reduction in health care claims with an exercise program alone, saving $500 per employee per year for the employees (60%) who joined their HealthWorks fitness program.

• Prudential Insurance Company reports that the company's major medical costs dropped from $574 to $312 for each participant in its wellness program.

Decreased Absenteeism
Absenteeism has been shown to be impacted by employer health promotion and wellness programs. The evidence indicates a significant reduction in absenteeism and resultant dollars saved as a result of employee fitness programs.

• Pacific Bell’s FitWorks program decreased absent days .8 percent to save $2 million in one year.  FitWorks members also spent 3.3 days less on short term disability for an additional savings of $4.7 million.

• The DuPont Corporation conducted a 2-year study on the effect of its comprehensive health promotion program on absences among workers.  It reportsed that blue collar employees at intervention sites had a 14% decline in disability days vs. 5.8% decline for controls. There were a total of 11,726 fewer net disability days.

Enhanced Performance, Productivity and Morale
A number of employers with health promotion programs report documented improvement in job attitude, work performance, energy level, and/or overall morale among program participants--all critical factors in enhancing productivity.

• A Johnson & Johnson study found that employee attitude changes were greater at health promotion intervention sites with significant positive attitude changes noted in the categories of organizational commitment, supervision, working conditions, job competence/security, and pay/benefits.

• In a Canadian government study, the Canada Life Assurance Company experimental group realized a 4% increase in productivity after starting an employee fitness program, compared to the control group. Further, 47% of program participants reported that they felt more alert, had better rapport with their coworkers, and generally enjoyed their work more.

• Swedish investigators found that mental performance was significantly better in physically fit workers than in non-fit workers. Fit workers committed 27% fewer errors on tasks involving concentration and short-term memory, as compared with the performance of non-fit workers.

I wish you continued Success....
Art Rothafel
art@privatelabelfitness.com
www.privatelabelfitness.com
tollfree:  800-340-7011