Worksite Wellness and Sustainability: Bringing Fitness to the Bottom Line

Because most adults spend a majority of their waking hours at work, a sustainable working environment is critical.  The work site, organizational culture and working environment are powerful influences on behavior.   Wellness programs have been used as instruments to address weight reduction, reduced stress levels, improved physical fitness, health, and well being.   But did you know they are also linked to business sustainability programs improving the bottom line? 

 Elaine Cohen, author of the CSR for HR  notes in a post, “It is estimated that employers spend $13 billion annually on the total cost of obesity. Approximately 9.1% of all health care costs in the United States are related to obesity and overweight. Workplace obesity prevention and control programs can be an effective way for employers to reduce obesity. They can produce a direct financial return on investment (ROI) by lowering health care costs, lowering absenteeism, and increasing employee productivity.”

  Additionally, “Return on investment – Canada Life in Toronto showed a return of $6.85 for every $1 invested in its Workplace Wellness program; while the Canadian government realized $1.95-$3.75 per employee per $1 spent.”

  Within our sustainability consulting, we cite the benefits of wellness programs as part of sustainable business strategies for all sizes of organizations:  

•    Enhanced recruitment and retention of healthy employees
•    Reduced health care costs
•    Decreased rates of illness and injuries
•    Reduced employee absenteeism
•    Improved employee relations and morale
•    Increased productivity

        Providing employees with wellness programs not only provides them a way to improve their health, but it also demonstrates corporate social responsibility.  Businesses taking it to the next step are integrating sustainability plans into the core business and including wellness programs as a means to improve the bottom line.

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