The Impact of Wellness Programs on Health Care Costs and Productivity

1939 Words8 Pages
The Impact of Wellness Programs on Health Care Costs and Productivity Table of Contents Abstract 3 Chapter 1- Introduction 4 Chapter 2 - Literature Review 6 Chapter 3 - Methodology 10 Abstract Employer spending for healthcare costs is on the rise. This has led many organizations to incorporate wellness programs to address health and productivity issues in their workforce. With recent research indicating wellness programs to be beneficial in reducing healthcare cost, increasing productivity and employee morale; employers are becoming interested in quantifying the effects of productivity and the return of investment from wellness programs. There is ample literature supporting the impact and ROI for large companies, but small and midsized companies lack adequate research data to support wellness program implementation and results. This study will examine trends among small and midsized company wellness programs, and how program effectiveness is determined. 400 human resource professionals with decision-making roles of small to mid-sized organizations, who have wellness programs already in place, will be asked to complete a 30 item survey that was developed for this study. Using a retrospective analysis of subject data over a 3 yr. period, summary measures of program characteristics were calculated and charted as simple averages. Chapter 1 Introduction Background Every year, studies indicate the growing health crises America faces. Common health issues that Americans live with are: diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and depression, and these are the same health issues that Americans take to work on a weekly basis. Sometimes health issues may cause employees to miss work all together, which is referred to as absenteeism. When health related illnesses cause employees to be present at work, but in a reduced capacity, it is called presenteeism.

More about The Impact of Wellness Programs on Health Care Costs and Productivity

Open Document