Why a Healthy Workforce is a Better Workforce

Check out these reasons why it’s important to have a healthy workforce and why you should invest in health and wellbeing management.

Focusing on Workforce Health Saves You & Employees Money

Health care costs are likely a significant portion of your budget, so it’s important to strategically address ways to contain costs. When trying to control costs, it may seem illogical to spend more money on employee health solutions. However, the advantages of investing in a happy, healthy workforce far outweigh the cost.

Check this out:

• Healthy employees are less likely to need high-cost, acute levels of care like hospital stays and ER visits. This means lower health care costs for both you and your employees.
• Participation in an employee health and wellbeing program over a five-year period is associated with lower health care costs and decreasing health care use.
• Medical costs fall by about $3.27 for every dollar spent on employee wellbeing programs.

Healthy Employees Show Up to Work

It’s estimated that on any given day, 3% of an employer’s workforce is absent. This adds up to around 21% of total payroll each year. Additionally, the CDC reports that productivity losses linked to absenteeism cost employers $225.8 billion annually in the United States, or $1,685 per employee.

Unhealthy employees are likely to call off work more often. Physical health problems, chronic conditions, emotional health issues, and financial stressors can all be reasons why.

• A Brigham Young University study found that absenteeism is reduced by 27% for employees who maintain a good diet and exercise regularly.
• Employee health and wellbeing programs can reduce absenteeism costs for employers by about $2.73 for every dollar spent.
• A study involving 45,000 blue-collar workers found that absences from non-job related illness decreased 41% at locations where an employee wellness program was offered compared with a 5.8% decline at 19 sites where it wasn’t. The ROI was $1.42 for every dollar spent due to reductions in absenteeism and increased productivity.

Healthy Employees Work Harder

Unhealthy employees are typically not as productive as healthy employees. Lost productivity related to illnesses cost employers $530 billion each year. In addition, $198 billion of this attributed to poor performance due to chronic health conditions.

Presenteeism, which basically means showing up to work but not really working, is a growing problem. It particularly affects workers who don’t have paid time off benefits. Instead, those who aren’t feeling well still come to work, but productivity is poor as a result.

Health and wellness programs for employees keep them engaged in healthier behaviors and habits that are achievable and sustainable. When employees’ needs are met, physically, mentally, and financially, they feel better. Therefore, they’re also better able to focus on their tasks.

Let’s take a look at some research that backs this up:

• A 2017 study demonstrated that employee wellbeing programs increase average worker productivity by more than 5%. That’s nearly one additional workday each month.
• Sick employees who participate in employee wellbeing programs have shown an 11% increase in productivity.

Healthy Employees Are Happier & More Engaged

Healthy employees are happy employees. Happy employees are more satisfied with their jobs, and therefore stay employed longer. For some, being unhappy in their jobs can cause unhealthy behaviors. Employee health management programs improve job satisfaction by giving workers the tools they need to address these unhealthy behaviors.

The facts are clear:

• Participants of employee health programs exhibit higher job satisfaction than those who don’t participate.
• Those who work for organizations with an employee wellbeing program are more likely to recommend their workplace to others.
• 89% of employees who state they have excellent wellbeing say they’re satisfied with their jobs compared to 44% of employees with poor wellbeing.

Not All Programs are Equal

If you’re considering cutting your health and wellbeing program for employees, it could be a sign that your program isn’t right for your workforce. Traditional programs are falling short because they address very few employee needs. The very best, most effective ones are part of a greater integrated health management solution that addresses ALL aspects of an employee’s health, maximizing engagement and overall participation, and driving better workforce health. They also deliver personalized guidance across virtual health solutions and in-person care, so employees are connected with the right care at the right time.

Ask yourself:

• Does your program address all aspects of an employee’s health, including physical, emotional, social, and financial health?
• Does your program vendor use claims data, health risk assessment data, social determinants, and more to determine program eligibility?
• Are employees supported and guided to the most appropriate, most affordable care?
• Are there nurses and certified case managers available to provide medical care advocacy?
• Do participants have digital access to resources, guidance, and tools?
• Is your program providing a hyper-personalized employee experience for the greatest engagement?
• Is your program supported by a team of employee engagement specialists, care advocates, and health coaches invested in progress and success?
• Are you seeing good VOI from your program?

If you can’t answer yes to all of the above, and if you’re not seeing the healthy workforce you want, it’s time to look elsewhere.