Investment in Corporate Fitness, Well-Being Compensates Big Dividends.

High rates of staff member turnover and the costs of sick days are increasingly taking bites into corporate profits. the high cost of recruitment programs only adds to the challenges that these problems in total cost the average business.

Many businesses are finding the solution to these challenges by increasing job satisfaction, team building, and the implementation of programs that yield a reduction in these costs.

It has become increasingly clear to most managers that a well designed wellness/fitness program with a strong nutritional and fitness lifestyle emphasis will directly meet this need.

Management’s goals for a productive wellness program should be viewed through the perspective of increased staff member productivity, reduced absenteeism due to health related causes, improved staff member morale, reduced utilisation of company subsidised health benefits, enhanced team cohesion and effectiveness and a decrease in turnover due to lack of job satisfaction.

It is apparent that an improvement in any of these areas will have a positive impact on the financial status of any organisation.

The benefits from an staff members point of view could be seen in improved health, increased energy levels, reduced body fat, a more youthful fit body, an increased ability to handle job related stress, greater feelings of confidence and morale and more social connections at work contributing to greater feelings of satisfaction with their work and workplace.

To be most productive a wellness program needs to achieve both managements and employees goals, and this may be accomplished through a program that’ll provide the individual worker with an awareness of their current physical condition and attitudes to fitness and wellness, and the benefits of attaining a fitter, healthier lifestyle, and a plan that’ll allow them to achieve the necessary changes to their physical condition that may be applied in the context of their life and work.

The Bottom Line - Wellness Programs

Decreased Absenteeism - Dupont decreased absenteeism by 47.5% over six years for the participants of their corporate fitness program, (Health Behaviour, March 1992).

Lowered Health Care Costs - Steel case showed a reduction in medical claim costs of 55% for corporate fitness program participants over non-participants over a six year period - an average of $478.61 for participants versus non-participants who averaged $868.88, (The Am. Journal of Wellness, Sept/Oct, 1991).

Lowered Turnover - Turnover among fitness program participants at the Canadian Life Assurance Company was 32.4% lower over a seven year period compared with non-participants (Canadian Journal of Public Health, Jan/Feb, 1988).

Positive Return on Investment - Blue Cross Blue Shield  of Indiana found that its corporate fitness program had a 250% return on investment; $2.51 for every $1 invested over a five year period (American Journal of Wellness, March, April, 1991).