Worksite Wellness Programs

For well over a decade, research has been showing the effectiveness of Worksite Wellness Programs. For every dollar spent on Worksite Wellness Programs, the returns have been cost savings of between $2.30 and $10.10 in the areas of decreased rates of absence, fewer sick days, reduced WSIB/WCB claims, lowered health and insurance costs, and improvements to employee performance and productivity.

Statistics do show that Worksite Wellness Programs increase employee morale, improve the ability to attract and retain key workers, all while having more alert and productive staff members. Some Worksite Wellness Program return on investment statistics of note:

• Canada Life Insurance reported a return of $3.43 on Worksite Wellness Program, and an overall Worksite Wellness Program return on investment of $6.85 on each corporate dollar invested on reduced turnover (32.4% lower), productivity gains and decreased medical claims,
• DuPont’s Worksite Wellness Program pilot sites saw a saving of 11,726 disability days and a return of U.S. $2.05 for every dollar invested by the end of the second year,
• The Canadian government’s Worksite Wellness Program return on investment was $1.95-$3.75 per employee per dollar spent (as found by Dr. Roy Shephard),
• Municipal staff members in Toronto, missed 3.35 fewer days in the first six months of their Worksite Wellness Program than staff members not enrolled in the program,
• British Columbia Hydro staff members enrolled in a Worksite Wellness Program had a turnover rate of just 3.5% compared with a Organization average of 10.3 percent,
• Johnson & Johnson estimated an average saving of U.S. $224.66 per employee per year for the four years examined after the program introduction, with the bulk of the savings being in the third and fourth years,
• Pacific Bell found that overall rates of absence decreased after starting a Worksite Wellness Program,
• Coca Cola report saving $500 every year per employee after starting a Worksite Wellness Program, with only 60% of their staff members taking part,
• Coors Brewing Co. found that for each dollar spent on their Worksite Wellness Program they saw a $5.50 return, and the staff members who participated reduced their absentee rate by 18 percent, and
• Prudential Insurance Company found that the benefits costs for staff members taking part in their program were $312, as opposed to $574 for non-participants