Workplace Wellness: A Success Strategy?

Workers are human beings, but they are also human capital thus industry has no choice but to pony up and liven up the workplace. An article, in the January 1st issue of Industry Week by Andrew Sykes The Secrets to Success in Wellness Programs: Leadership, Incentives, Healthy Workplace, suggests as much.

Sykes cites the federal Centers for Disease Control claim that, "preventable illnesses and medical conditions comprise approximately 99% of this nation’s $1.4 trillion dollar medical care costs." He then goes on to give data on a case study indicating a direct correlation between one companies wellness program, and medical savings.

This particular case is likely the exception, rather than the rule. Even as change might be on the horizon across the board, there seems to be a disconnect as to whether a company can see tangible financial benefits from it’s wellness programs.

Sykes says there are some secrets to success – to change the perception that wellness programs are just frothy perks. Leadership, incentives and a workplace where healthy behavior is encouraged he says, are important ingredients. And there are multi-national companies which have boarded the train to that end. But it seems we need some big billboards to capture the attention of most companies.

Perhaps the incentive of an aging workforce and tightening job market might help establish the tipping point for big business to look into the return-on-investment of wellness programs. It seems the systemic implementation of such initiatives has a long way to go, until the tangibles of the bottom-line are seen in the company spread sheets.