employee wellness plans

employee wellness plans
The Greek writer and philosopher Plato said it best in the Republic, when he wrote," "necessity is the mother of invention." "In these difficult economic times, employers are alternative solutions to rising health care costs in order to maintain market share and profitability.

According to the National Coalition for Health, the employee health care costs rising at a rate of 6.9 percent annually, which is twice the rate of inflation. Health spending in the United States, 17 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), and the average cost of care for every person in the United States is about $ 7900 per person.

A large part of the burden for covering the costs of care for employees falls on the employer. In 2008, the annual premium for an employer health plan for a family of four was $ 12,700. This was the first year that the annual employee health care premiums on the gross wage for a full-time, minimum wage worker at $ 10,712.

National surveys show that the primary reason many people are uninsured is because the cost of health insurance. Instead, the price of health insurance provided by insurance, many people choose to the risk and health insurance total abandon.

Others are more inventive employers actively looking for alternative ways to reduce health care costs through a variety of cost-cutting methods. Corporate wellness programs are quick to resolve the election with an average return of $ 3 for every $ 1 spent. Here are five of the best reasons why the employer of choice employee wellness programs in the battle risking health care costs:

1. Decreased health care costs - Corporate wellness programs can literally save employers money from health care costs. Fully-insured companies tend to see a higher return on investment, because they are self-financed and literally every dollar saved goes back into the employer's pocket.

2. Reduced absenteeism - Healthier employees spend less time away from work. This means that products and services can be more efficient, there is less paid time off is necessary, temporary employees are needed less often to cover for sick employees and other employees are less likely to become ill.

3. Increased productivity - There is a strong correlation between the health and productivity of employees. Employee wellness programs can decrease stress, improve concentration, improve communication between departments and employees, and improve employee satisfaction.

4. Increased employee loyalty - Wellness programs are for employees. By maintaining an active corporate wellness program, it is easier to recruit future employees and retain current employees of enterprises or change in the competitors.

5. Reduced Presenteeism - Presenteeism is the negative result of sick employees who continue to work. Presenteeism can be drastically reduced and the morale of employees with other workers to fall ill when they would otherwise not become ill. Corporate wellness programs improve the total health of the population and thus decreasing presenteeism.

Corporate and employee wellness programs.