Employee Benefits Consulting: Wellness Programs

Many small businesses and large corporations are implementing wellness programs within their company, as encouraged by many employee benefits consulting firms. Wellness programs can be tailored to fit the needs, size, and culture of the company and are typically instituted by the Human Resources department or by an outside employee benefits broker.

As the prices for health insurance for business continues to rise, many forward thinking companies have launched wellness programs into the workplace as advised by employee benefit consulting firms. These programs have been shown to decrease costs in several areas, including decreased insurance usage, less sick or disability time needed away from work, and a general increase in workplace diligence and enthusiasm. These items are measurable to varying degrees and case studies indicate that when executed effectively, wellness programs can decrease company costs and increase productivity.

Employee Benefits Broker

Using an outside employee benefits broker may help a company decide which types of wellness program components to utilize for their particular employee base. Employee benefits consultants have done the research on which types of programs work and if certain programs are right for the personnel. In the past, businesses have put into practice information-only type programs, which were met with limited or no success. The greater success has typically been found when the culture can be transformed. Using an employee benefits consulting firm will help determine how to accomplish this for the individual company structure.

As part of a comprehensive corporate wellness program, health fairs may be an ideal way to get employees on board. Health fairs can be large gatherings with many different vendors to attract high turnout, such as handing out pedometers to encourage walking or having free health screenings. Other smaller fairs throughout the year may be limited to one or two different topics, such as flu shots or vision and hearing screenings.

Health Insurance for Business Costs Rising

The cost of health insurance for business continues to rise and companies are finding it critical to make the most cost-effective decisions in this arena. Wellness programs can typically alleviate the cost of medical care for both the employee and the employer. Programs such as weight management, smoking cessation, and exercise contribute to the overall health and well-being of the individual. Not only does this decrease the need for medical care-office visits, urgent care, etc.-but it also has been found to increase employee productivity. Employee benefits brokers point out that employees who participate in these programs typically take less sick time and can work more effectively during business hours.