The Benefits Of Fitness In The Workplace
Durand 1
Bryce Durand
Andrea Ropko
English 111
1 December 2014
Fitness in the Workplace
Today, more than ever, employers face the challenge of controlling rising health care costs in a competitive marketplace. Evidence indicates that a corporate wellness program is a strategic investment in the employees’ social, mental, and physical health, improving the corporation’s bottom line profitability. In other words, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and employers are discovering the payoff. Johnson and Johnson leaders estimate that wellness programs have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade; from 2002 to 2008, the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent.
A corporate wellness program is an employer-sponsored program designed to support employees as they adopt and sustain behaviors that reduce health risks, improve quality of life, and enhance personal effectiveness.
A key component of the wellness program is sponsoring a fitness center in or near the workplace. Studies show that a regular regime of exercise for the employee will lower health care costs, absenteeism, and workplace stress. Productivity increases as the worker can operate more efficiently. Happy and healthy employees are more focused, dedicated, and productive while at work. While providing employees with nutrition education, employers can take a preventative approach to the health of their staff. This preventative practice of health care benefits the employer as well as the employee by preventing chronic diseases through proper diet and exercise. This increases the employee 's physical and mental health, making a more productive employee. The more productive the employee, the more successful the business. In
Durand 2
order for this approach to succeed, businesses would require employees to participate in at least one form of exercise provided by the company. The company would need to establish a
Bryce Durand
Andrea Ropko
English 111
1 December 2014
Fitness in the Workplace
Today, more than ever, employers face the challenge of controlling rising health care costs in a competitive marketplace. Evidence indicates that a corporate wellness program is a strategic investment in the employees’ social, mental, and physical health, improving the corporation’s bottom line profitability. In other words, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and employers are discovering the payoff. Johnson and Johnson leaders estimate that wellness programs have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade; from 2002 to 2008, the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent.
A corporate wellness program is an employer-sponsored program designed to support employees as they adopt and sustain behaviors that reduce health risks, improve quality of life, and enhance personal effectiveness.
A key component of the wellness program is sponsoring a fitness center in or near the workplace. Studies show that a regular regime of exercise for the employee will lower health care costs, absenteeism, and workplace stress. Productivity increases as the worker can operate more efficiently. Happy and healthy employees are more focused, dedicated, and productive while at work. While providing employees with nutrition education, employers can take a preventative approach to the health of their staff. This preventative practice of health care benefits the employer as well as the employee by preventing chronic diseases through proper diet and exercise. This increases the employee 's physical and mental health, making a more productive employee. The more productive the employee, the more successful the business. In
Durand 2
order for this approach to succeed, businesses would require employees to participate in at least one form of exercise provided by the company. The company would need to establish a
Cited: Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Chronic Diseases at a Glance. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/AAG/pdf/chronic.pdf (4) 3. Finkelstein, E.A., Trogdon, J.G., Joel W. Cohen, J.W. & and Dietz, W. (2009). Annual Medical Spending Attributable To Obesity: PayerAnd ServiceSpecific Estimates. (6) 5. The Kaiser Family FoundationandHealth Research & Education Trust. (2009). Summary Findings Employer Health Benefits. Retrieved from