Sunday, May 31, 2009
Keeping your employees fit!
A study done for the California Department of Health Services on chronic disease,
estimated that physical inactivity, obesity, and being overweight cost California $21.7
billion in direct and indirect medical care, workers' compensation, and lost productivity
in the year 2000. These costs were projected to rise to over $28 billion in 2005. More
than 75 percent of medical care costs are attributable to largely preventable chronic
diseases.
Research from diverse and reputable sources report a significant relationship between
employee health and fitness and increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, employee
loyalty, and decreased health care costs associated with illness, injury, and worker
compensation.
I'll add two more issues that relate employee health and fitness to the business bottom
line: The ability to attract Next Gen workforce and “presenteeism.”
First, let's face it, our ability to attract Next Gen talent to our businesses is influenced by
the morale and makeup of our current staff. So if the company's model of success is
overweight, stressed, and in chronic pain, new and prospective employees have to
wonder, “Is this what I have to aspire to?” Second, “presenteeism” is the new term for the
negative impacts of employees who continue to work even though they are ill, injured, or
somehow not at their best. They can cause other employees to become sick and decrease
overall workforce morale.
In these difficult economic times, implementing an employee wellness program may be
one of the wisest business decisions you can make to reduce costs. If you invest in
maintenance for equipment and facilities to achieve long-term cost efficiency, it makes
sense to do it for your workforce.
In fact, the National Business Group of Health says employers can achieve a potential
three to one ROI, or $300 for every $100 spent per employee, on implementing
preventive services and health improvement programs.
Let us help you design a low cost employee health and fitness program. Many Health
Plans offer value added programs and ancillary health programs can include value added

health and fitness programs. One of the best ways to see these programs blossom and
work is to offer small incenetives to employees using and maintaing these programs.
Contact us for more information at info@amsinsure.com or 800-334-7875.
Posted by AMS Employee Benefits at 10:32 PM 0 comments