Many workers are trying to balance a job, family responsibilities and their health -- and failing. Putting work and others first might seem like the least selfish thing to do -- but not addressing health issues boomerangs back, leading to higher health care costs to the employer and workers' reduced ability to take care of families. As costs rise, employers are preemptively hiring wellness consultants.
Keeping Costs Down
If employees take better care of themselves, their health needs will be financially less draining on employers. Less productivity will be lost to absenteeism and smoke breaks. Healthier people are generally happier, so the mood around the office will be more pleasant. As employers hurry to contract with wellness companies, bosses must remember that making permanent changes in people's behavior takes time. It might be a few years before an employer can see a return on investment; even then, it may be hard to identify exactly which wellness activities best correlate to savings.
Addressing Issues
Wellness consultants in the workplace help employees to work on concrete improvements to their health. The consultant assesses each participating employee and determines what needs to improve. Some people need to lose weight; others need to stop smoking or improve their diets. A health coach can teach employees exercises to decrease job-related injuries and help rehabilitate those who are recovering from injuries or medical conditions. Consultants may also work with the families of employees, to help ensure they will support new healthy behaviors at home.
Incentives
Big changes in wellness-incentive programs will start in 2014, with changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Employers will be allowed to increase their wellness incentives: an employee's premium discount of 20 percent, for participating in the wellness program, will increase to 30 percent. Some industry leaders also want to offer more noncash incentives to employees who quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight and otherwise make them less likely to cause big health care bills. Safeway's incentive program bases employees' healthcare premiums on factors such as cholesterol level, blood pressure, weight and tobacco usage.
A Big Business
The wellness business has exploded, with companies paying billions annually, according to Paul Zane Pilzer, author of "The Wellness Revolution." Pilzer expects the industry to continue to grow. While the recession may have temporarily slowed the growth in wellness programs, an aging population and health care reforms will mean continued attention to preventative care and finding new ways to keep at bay illness, aging and prohibitive health care costs.
References
- "Industry Week"; The Win-Win of Wellness in the Workplace; Robert Petrancosta; January 1, 2008
- "Incentive"; For Wellness Programs, Health Care Reform Means a New Day; Andrea Doyle; June 24, 2010
- "Benefits Selling"; Wellness Programs Likely to Fall Short; Jenny Ivy; August 12, 2010
- Paul Zane Pilzer: The Wellness Revolution
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