Companies of all shapes and sizes are striving to make physical fitness part of their employees' lives.
Aside from exercise’s proven health benefits, physically fit employees can also handle physical work tasks better, deal with stressful situations more easily and tend to be less susceptible to illness and injuries. Statistics show that companies with corporate fitness programs enjoy:
- Reduced healthcare costs
- Increased productivity
- Reduced absenteeism
- Reduced turnover
- Positive return on investment
The numbers speak for themselves.
Ergonomics
The National Safety Council stated that in 1996, backaches alone cost industries more than $1.2 billion in production and services and $275 million in worker's compensation. Source: The American Council on Exercise, ACE Fitness Matters, January/February 2006
According to OSHA, finding solutions to the problems posed by ergonomics hazard may be the most significant workplace safety and health issue of the 1990's.
Repetitive Motion Illness or Cumulative Trauma Disorders represent almost 1/2 of all occupational illnesses reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Health and Health Care Costs
Nationwide smoking attributable productivity losses from 1997-2001 cost $92 billion. Source: Centers for Disease Control, June 2005
In 2008, the estimated health care costs related to obesity were $147 billion (CDC.gov, Finkelstein EA, Trogdon JG, Cohen JW, Dietz 2009)
U.S. healthcare costs doubled from 1990 to 2001 and are projected to double by 2012. Source: Partnerships for Prevention
Between the years 2000-2010, health insurance premiums for a typical family of four increased by 114% proving costly for both employers and employees (CDC.GOV; KEISER2010)
A review of 73 published studies of worksite health promotion programs shows an average $3.50-to-$1 savings-to-cost ratio in reduced absenteeism and health care costs. Source: American Journal Health Promotion
A review of 62 worksite health studies shows a decrease in health care cost ranging from 6-50% and a decrease in sick leave between 11-50% (Chapman2012)
Medical costs fall by about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs and that absenteeism costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent (BaickerCutlerSong 2010)
US companies could save an average of US$ 700 per employee per year on healthcare costs and productivity gained if they address inactivity, stress and harmful use of alcohol over five years (World Economic Forum2010)
Health Promotion Benefits
A meta-review of 42 published studies of worksite health promotion programs shows:
- Average 28% reduction in sick leave absenteeism
- Average 26% reduction in health costs
- Average 30% reduction in workers' compensation and disability management claims costs
- Average $5.93-to-$1 savings-to-cost ratio
Source: The Art of Health Promotion
Wellness programming entices the best skilled applicants to join your workforce and once hired enhances performance and presenteeism.
- 88% of private sector employers with more than 5,000 workers offer wellness incentives (PriceWterhouseCoopers, 2011).
- 64% of employees who perceive their employer as an active promoter of health and wellness stay at least five years with the company (World Economic Forum2010)