Bernie Lowe & Associates has taken the initiative in promoting the benefits of successful wellness programs and made the commitment as an organization to not only institute wellness internally, but to educate the employer community as well.
The recent rising costs of healthcare have influenced the increasing cost of employer-paid medical benefits. Today, wellness programs and services are available to employer groups to help mitigate this trend. These programs encourage healthy behaviors amongst the employee population by focusing on personal health awareness and preventive measures, which ultimately help employees in their health-minded decision-making process, leading to a healthier employee.
Employees with harmful health risk factors are increasingly absent from work, less productive and have higher medical claims, which inevitably increase the cost of a group health plan. A successful wellness program will promote and encourage employee participation in the plan, resulting in improved lifestyles — tobacco cessation, weight management, and stress management are all essential components of a wellness program dedicated to helping employees overcome critical risk factors.
Over time, as a work-staff population becomes healthier, the adverse effects of an unhealthy group begin to correct themselves as employees continue to naturally make better, health-conscious decisions. Healthier employees benefit an employer by reducing an employer’s benefit expenses and improving the bottom line. For employers, a healthy work force leads to healthy productivity.