11.02 - Wellness Program - Laserfiche WebLink

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/ `� . � I �,EAGUE oF j�INNESOTA CITIES CONNECTING & INN4VATING SINCE t913 WORKSITE WELLNESS PROGRAMS THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE HEALTHY Cities are increasingly aware of the positive effects wellness programs have on employee health and well-being and on city budgets. Studies show that healthier employees are more productive, have fewer absences, and have fewer workers' compensation and health insurance claims costs. Since employees spend a majority of their waking life at work, worksite wellness programs serve as a good opportunity to engage employees in healthy lifestyles and to promote overall healthy behaviors and activities. With the passage of legislation in 2007, cities now have specific authority to develop, implement and fund worksite wellness programs. This article and the accompanying materials touch on the important components of a successful worksite wellness program (The Good); compliance issues relating to wellness programs (The Bad); and the resources available to help you get started (The Healthy). Critical components of a successful wellness program Starting a work site wellness program can be a daunting task, but making the decision to invest � time, money and energy into wellness is the first important step. And, there has never been a better time to focus on health improvement than now. Consider the following statistics posted on the Minnesota Department of Health web site: • In 2000, approximately $495 million was spent in Minnesota treating diseases and conditions that could be avoided if all adults were physically active. • Minnesota loses $2.60 billion annually from healthcare expenditures and lost productivity caused by tobacco-related illnesses. • 20% of Minnesota adults report that they are current smokers; 22% report that they have been told by their physician that they have hypertension; 49% do not meet the recommendations for sufficient physical activity. • The annual return on investment (ROn over the past 10 years has been as much as $6 saved for every $1 spent on wellness. And, once you've made the initial investment, it only takes 2-5 years to realize these savings. • Well designed wellness programs result in an average 25% reduction in health plan costs, sick leave, disability costs, and workers' compensation. There are many important components to consider when establishing a wellness program. Carefully consider the following steps to establishing a successful and effective wellness program: ➢ Management support ➢ Wellness Committee � 14S UNtVERSITY AVE. WEST PHONE: (651) 281-1200 Fnx: (6S1) 281-1299 ST. PAUL, MN 55103-2044 TOLL FREE: (HOO) 92S-]122 WfB: WWW.LMC.ORG