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Wellness In The Workplace
September 2008
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As the political conventions convene and the general election approaches, LoneStart is promoting what we see as a practical and "patriotic" solution to our national health care crisis. It's certainly not the only solution, but it's a start, and one where we can all do our part. And, it's gettng attention. CLICK HERE to read more.

Under Construction
Why Build a Culture of Wellness?

Whether or not to become involved in wellness in the workplace isn't the question. We're all already there.

By now we all know that most corporate Benefits, Health, and HR professionals see health benefits cost management as a top priority. It's also common knowledge that the performance of healthy and engaged employees surpasses that of those who are not. And it's no surprise that as health care costs continue to increase, employee wellness programs are the logical first choice to achieve affordable, effective solutions for achieving employee health and wellness. While we know LoneStart is a proven and cost-effective wellness strategy, we also know it's not the only program available, so this article speaks to the benefits of wellness programs in general.

All wellness programs are based on the assumption that unhealthy lifestyle choices can be changed - with the right information, opportunity and support. In creating a culture of wellness in your workplace a well-organized effort is essential. And creating a culture of wellness should be recognized as both a business strategy, and a business imperative, directly affecting both the well-being of workers and the organization's bottom line.

By addressing the lifestyle health risks of employees through a wellness program, over time companies have the opportunity to save millions of dollars in health care and disability costs, as well as costs associated with lost productivity. And, since approximately 75 percent of health care expenditures are attributed to modifiable health risks and behaviors, such as obesity, poor nutritional habits, physical inactivity and smoking, achieving these savings is well within reach.

It's worth noting too, that health, and wellness, can't be defined narrowly. Wellness is not just the absence of sickness. It also includes the emotional and social well-being of individuals. This means the costs to organizations are much broader than just the cost of medical benefits.

So, how does an organization build a culture of wellness? And how do companies convince their employees to take part in a wellness program? How can you maximize the effectiveness of your program and work toward creating a healthy, productive workforce? Consider the following points:

  • How well do you communicate with your employees in general, and are they receptive to company communications? The more you understand your employees and how receptive they are to the information you provide, the more likely you are to implement a successful program with company-wide acceptance and participation. In addition, support for your wellness program must filter through your organization, starting at the top.
  • Once you've implemented a wellness program, give it time. It takes time to develop poor behaviors and it takes time to create effective behavior change. It doesn't happen overnight - yet working toward building a culture of wellness in your organization can motivate and inspire employees to focus on making healthy changes and choices - and that requires sustained effort and the support of the organization.
  • Once started, keep it going and find supporters (we call them LoneStart Ambassadors) within your organization that have the enthusiasm and credibility to validate the program. Nothing speaks louder to employees than their peers who have lost weight, become more physically active, or quit smoking - improving their lives by adopting healthier lifestyle choices through the wellness program you offer.

Keep your "eye on the prize" and remember the payoff. A true culture of wellness is worth the effort and worth the wait.
One Ton
The Heavy Costs of Obesity and Diabetes

For more on what obesity and diabetes might be costing your organization, please refer to the Quick Links for downloadable PDF documents. And, just in case you don't already know:

  • On average, health care for a family runs about $12,100 a year. Employers pick up approximately 72 percent of that bill.
  • Average medical claims costs per 100 employees amount to $51,019 per year for the obese, compared to $7,503 for normal weight employees.
  • More than half of all insured Americans take prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems. The largest single factor - obesity.
  • Obesity sets the stage for risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
  • Chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease account for $100 to $150 billion in health care spending in the U.S. per year.
  • Productivity loss associated with workers who have chronic diseases are as much as 400 percent more than the cost of treatment.
  • Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. - and is now more costly to employers than smoking or alcholoism.
  • Each day in the U.S. there are 4,100 new diabetes cases diagnosed and 810 deaths from the disease. Each day about 230 diabetes patients suffer amputations, 120 suffer kidney failure and 55 go blind.

But (this is the good news part):

  • If obesity rates declined, assuming modest improvement, it could lead to $60 billion less in treatment costs and $254 billion in increased productivity. That $314 billion is roughly equivalent to federal and state spending on the Medicaid program each year.
  • A modest weight loss of only 8 percent results in better blood sugar control and reduced need for diabetes and blood pressure medications.

If you would like information about how LoneStart can help your organization address these issues, CLICK HERE, or just give us a call.
Jay
LoneStart Goes To Washington, D.C.

In August, Jay Seifert, co-founder of LoneStart Wellness, was invited by the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), Health Resources Services Administration, to address Rural Health Network Development Grantees in Washington, D.C. The topic was "Creating a Culture of Wellness" (see more on "Why Build a Culture of Wellness?" in this issue's lead article). Jay's presentation focused on the multiple benefits that accrue to rural health care providers that promote an effective, open-ended wellness strategy within their organizations and communities.

LoneStart's "Caring for the Caregivers" employee wellness strategy for health care providers is a response to the reality that while many rural communities have a higher incidence of chronic disease risk factors, they have limited access to wellness resources and have been underserved by traditional wellness programs. By implementing a positive, cost-effective and open-ended wellness strategy, these organizations address their employee health care costs, while reinforcing their role as the leading wellness resource in their service area. Important public relations and business development benefits accrue when these organizations promote a new "culture of wellness" among their employees, their families and the communities they serve. This includes providing the hospital or health care network with a platform to extend its out-of-facility community-based services.

The ORHP staff was especially interested in LoneStart's concept of "Viral Wellness," which is based on the knowledge that wellness, (as well as illness) can be contagious. Once we prove to ourselves we can be successful in our wellness efforts, we tend to become enthusiastic advocates for the strategy that helped us meet our goals - thereby "spreading" wellness within our organizations and on to family and friends. These contagious benefits of wellness are reflected in healthier lifestyles, and for employers, healthier profits.

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If your organization is ready to take responsibility for promoting healthy lifestyles and a healthy work environment, LoneStart is an effective, low-cost and easy-to-administer employee wellness program, which functions equally well as a stand-alone initiative or as a high-impact jump-start to existing or proposed employee wellness strategies.

Contact us today to find out how the LoneStart Wellness Initiative will change your workplace.

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A Challenge. An Opportunity. A Solution.
The LoneStart Wellness Initiative
phone: 512.894.3440