5 Worksite Wellness Predictions from the Experts

There continues to be a tremendous amount of innovation and advancements in what companies worldwide are offering employees through workplace wellness programs. The Virgin Pulse Science Advisory Board, a group of international scholars and researchers in the fields of behavior change and workplace health, have made some predictions for 2017.

Dr. Eric Finkelstein, PhD, Executive Center Director, Lien Centre of Palliative Care; Professor at Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical Center
“In 2017, there will be an increased emphasis on personal responsibility, such that employers and insurers will incentivize individuals for meeting healthy behaviors, partly through the increasing use of wearables and other measurement devices.”  
Finkelstein’s prediction speaks to a growing body of research that is evaluating the effect of wearable devices on long-term behavior change. Wearables are no passing fad in the workplace. Devices that help employees track their behavior are helping them stay mindful of their decisions, challenges and progress toward their goals.

Ron Goetzel, PhD, Senior Scientist and Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
“In the months and years ahead, employees will have a greater say in the design, implementation, and fine-tuning of programs.”
In the past decade, workplace well-being focused on more than just physical health and fitness. Programs have dramatically expanded to address stress, sleep, nutrition, finances, social relationships, mindfulness and even spirituality. Employers now understand that the journey to well-being is a deeply personal one, defined uniquely by the needs and desires of each individual employee.

Dr. Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, Director, Human Nature Lab, Yale University; Co-Director, Yale Institute for Network Science
“There will be an increasing awareness of the power that relationships at work have to shape our wellness. The focus on online interactions will shift back to face-to-face interactions at work, which are powerful forces on human behavior.” 
Dr. Christakis stresses social dynamics and their impact on both individual and population health. Health and healthy behavior, such as smoking cessation or weight loss, can spread through social groups. Because most of our waking hours are spent at work, the workplace social network is perhaps the most powerful environment for developing healthy habits.

David Batman, MBChB, Specialist Consultant, Occupational Medicine; Former Head of Occupational Health, Safety, and Employee Well-being for Nestle
“In 2017, there will be a move from ROI to a VOI evaluation, which will necessitate a new business dashboard including metrics such as engagement, resilience, concentration, fatigue, sleep, stress etc.”
As the wellness industry evolves, there is a need for new data points to understand how employee well-being affects businesses. Medical and pharmaceutical claims have been a traditional method for evaluating wellness ROI, but that doesn’t fully capture the VOI of the complex, holistic nature of strategic well-being programs. Measuring VOI attempts to understand and explore all of the different areas in an organization where value is created through the enhancement of employee wellbeing.

I-Min Lee, MBBS, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health 
“Large increases in prescription drug costs to employers will increase the emphasis on worksite well-being programs that work to reduce the need for such drugs. There will be more evidence-based evaluation of what programs truly work.”
The dramatic price increases for many prescription drugs, including those used to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes diabetes will lead employers to demand proven outcomes from their investments. Data-light, feel-good programs without any real measurement of outcomes are on their way out. In 2017, well-being programs will become central, critical business imperatives that are necessary for optimizing not just the productivity and performance of employees but also for managing the bottom line.

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3 Key Benefits of Worksite Wellness Programs

There may always be individuals who don’t believe worksite wellness programs provide a return on investment (ROI), but those individuals are missing out on major benefits for their employees. While ROI is important, and a well-designed program can deliver a solid return, keep in mind that worksite wellness programs are all about employees. These programs generate invaluable results and have a real impact on bringing teams together, fostering trust, and boosting morale and motivation.

Bringing teams together. In the 2015 Mental Health America report, which included close to 2,000 respondents, 80 percent said they’re inclined to work alone because of an unhelpful or hostile work environment. Wellness programs can help solve this problem by encouraging team building. Programs can be designed to encourage social, physical and intellectual interaction among employees. Fun, team-based challenges can bring employees closer together and improve workplace relationships.

Fostering trust between employees and leaders. Wellness programs do more than improve relationships between employees; they also increase trust between employers and employees and this can increase employee engagement and productivity. A 2015 survey of nearly 2,000 employees completed by Quantum Workplace and Limeade found that respondents were 38 percent more engaged and 18 percent more likely to put in extra effort when they felt their employers cared about their well-being. When employers are unable to foster caring and trust, employees are more likely to become disengaged and look for a new job. Investments in health and well-being make people feel valued – an unquantifiable benefit that goes a long way.

Boosting employee morale and motivation. An organization’s mission and values are meant to set a course for the company so that each employee knows they are working towards a common goal. However, according to the 2015 Achievers survey, 57 percent of employees reported they are not motivated by their company’s mission. Employees who don’t think their work is meaningful are less motivated, which leads to decreased productivity and engagement. A well-designed worksite wellness program can reinforce a company’s mission and values and foster a renewed sense of purpose. A wellness program that serve as a hub for everything – volunteering, team building, culture and energy – rather than simply focusing on physical activity – is the key to an inspired and aligned workforce. Participating in charity walks, fundraisers and other events reminds employees that work is a community. Additionally, allowing employees time to participate in volunteer activities of their choice fosters autonomy and a renewed sense of purpose.

Worksite wellness programs can bring people together, boost morale, keep employees motivated and drive positive behavior.  Employers should continue to assess ways to inspire and align their entire workforce toward similar goals. Wellness Workdays has developed innovative, engaging programs for organizations that extend beyond physical health. Contact us to learn more.

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Evaluating Your Worksite Wellness Program: ROI or VOI?

An important step in the development of each worksite wellness program is setting goals and determining how you will measure results. This will help you determine whether your program is meeting your objectives and will provide insight about changes you can make to improve results.

Organizations can use two methods to evaluate the investment in their health and wellness programs. The first, return on investment (ROI), evaluates the amount of money a company spends on wellness compared to the amount of money it saves on healthcare costs. This form of evaluation is focused on the tangible return – money – and a measurable outcome that directly relates with the original investment. When evaluating a program using ROI, it’s clear whether the return or the investment is of greater value.

The second evaluation tool, value on investment (VOI), measures the overall value received on the financial investment while also including the abstract value received from the investment. Because VOI is not as tangible a measure, the types of outcomes may differ from the initial investment and can sometimes be difficult to compare.  When using VOI, it can be a challenge to determine whether the value or the investment is of greater value. Despite this challenge many organizations have started to use VOI to evaluate their wellness programs because it includes the invaluable benefits of employee health – increased morale, reduced sick days, decreased turnover and higher productivity as well as the financial savings on healthcare costs.

In deciding which evaluation measure to rely on, take a look at your corporate culture, your wellness program goals, and the size and style of your program. Your program goals can help  you determine how success should be defined. Does your program have a “people” focus, a “productivity” focus or another type of focus that lends itself to using either ROI or VOI? Next, define the size of your wellness program. Smaller programs are slightly more difficult to measure because a large sample is not available to accurately demonstrate financial comparisons. Lastly, take a look at your wellness program style. Is the focus on overall employee wellbeing or only on physical health? Is it activity or education based? The answers to these questions can help you determine whether a ROI or a VOI evaluation makes the most sense for your organization.

Whether taken together or independently, ROI and VOI are important tools that can help you evaluate the success of your worksite wellness program. Wellness Workdays helps clients evaluate each and every program we implement. If you are looking for additional insight or need help evaluating your initiative, contact us.

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Beyond ROI -- Employers Use VOI to Measure Wellness Program Success

A new report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans finds employers are measuring wellness program success using Value on Investment (VOI) in addition to Return on Investment (ROI). More than one-quarter of organizations are measuring their wellness program success with traditional ROI while half are using at least one VOI measure to track success. VOI measures include employee engagement, turnover, absenteeism, productivity and recruitment/referral rates.

The report compared organizations achieving positive wellness VOI with the average organization that only offered wellness initiatives. It found that organizations with positive wellness VOI provide a wider range of wellness offerings than other organizations. These offerings include fitness and nutrition programs, screening and treatment options, social and community events, stress and mental health guidance, and purpose and growth plans. Positive VOI wellness programs are also more likely to use a wide variety of wellness communication channels to reach employees such as seminars, speakers, testimonials, books, brochures, health fairs, peer groups, mentors and social media.

The study found that employers with a strong VOI approach wellness more holistically than traditional ROI focused wellness programs and offer initiatives including flexible work hours, stress-management programs, staff outings and charity drives.

When companies measure ROI, they fail to capture the larger effect employee health initiatives have on the business as a whole, but VOI allows companies to assess how their wellness strategy affects goals such as engagement, productivity and absenteeism.

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Visit Wellness Workdays for more information about our worksite wellness programs. Check out our News & Events page to learn about our June 7 webinar and check back frequently for additional webinars, including a session on VOI. Dates to be released soon.

Beat Rising Healthcare Costs with a Robust Wellness Program

Employers should be prepared for continued healthcare cost increases and implement cost-saving wellness programs for employees. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the average premium this year for employer-provided health insurance coverage for an individual is $6,400 and $15,500 for a family.  The cost is expected to rise by five percent each year over the next ten years.  By 2025, health insurance coverage could reach $10,000 for an individual and $24,500 for a family.

Worksite wellness programs have proven to be effective in not just lowering health premiums and costs associated with unhealthy employees, but, also improving employee productivity, reducing absenteeism associated with illness, and improving employee attitudes and quality of life. Below are some of the reasons that worksite wellness programs will help combat the rising cost of health insurance.

Substantial cost savings. Worksite wellness can lead to a better bottom line. The return on investment has been well documented through decades of research in this area and ranges from $1 saved for every dollar spent to $6.50 saved for every dollar spent. From negotiating better health care premium rates to identifying cost avoidance by moderating your medical trends, companies can experience savings in a variety of ways.

Increased productivity and engagement. The seven most common chronic diseases—cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary conditions, and mental illness—are all caused or worsened by obesity and are costing employers $1.1 trillion in lost productivity. Research shows that much of this cost can be avoided. Companies with worksite wellness programs experience an eight percent increase in employee productivity. And employees like wellness programs. Well-designed programs provide access to experts for nutrition and fitness advice, convenient health screenings, and programs for mental and fiscal health. These initiatives make employees feel like their employers care, which can boost engagement and, potentially, productivity. 

Fewer missed work days. One meta-analysis of 42 corporate wellness studies found a 25 percent reduction in absenteeism and sick leave and a 32 percent reduction in workers compensation and disability costs.

Happier employees. Happy and healthy employees feel better about work and are less likely to look for a job elsewhere. Having a worksite wellness program sends a strong signal to employees that the organization’s concerns extend beyond the financial bottom line.

Find out how Wellness Workdays can help you implement a comprehensive wellness program that will save you money, increase productivity, lower absenteeism and create happier, healthier employees.

Visit Wellness Workdays for more information about our worksite wellness programs.

3 Steps to Achieve a Culture of Health

Organizations with a culture of wellness are better able to recruit and retain top talent and, according to new research, are more profitable. Engaging your employees is crucial to sustaining a strong wellness program and developing this culture. And while wellness programs were originally developed to reduce health care costs other priorities have emerged, including boosting productivity, reducing stress, increasing financial wellness, improving employee loyalty and attracting talent.

C-level Commitment and Participation
To develop a strong wellness culture, a top down approach is needed. Company leadership must be involved and visible, and executives and managers need to set the stage for health and well-being. Upper level management should make time to participate in wellness activities and encourage their employees do the same. A successful corporate wellness programs relies heavily on corporate leadership and participation – and the ones who do it well are able to create robust programs that get results.

Measure the Value on Investment (VOI)
With management involved and participating, you are well on your way to developing a successful program. But how will you measure success? Interestingly, many companies have begun to measure a wellness program’s VOI instead of relying solely on the traditional ROI. VOI may focus on improving morale, attracting or retaining talent, reducing accidents or improving job satisfaction. Attention to VOI can, over time, increase ROI.  The industry standard for ROI is for every dollar invested in a corporate wellness program, you should receive three dollars in return over a three to five year period. However, companies are finding that by increasing VOI, ROI will also increase – and in a shorter period of time.

Outcomes-Based Programs
When creating your program, keep in mind that the most successful wellness programs are outcomes-based programs. Employees who participate in an outcomes-based program are more likely to have strong lifestyle changes. The biggest and most successful wellness outcome employers are experiencing is weight loss. Weight loss and weight management are the biggest part of the value on investment employers cite in their success.




The Wellness Workdays team works with companies across the country to develop and implement customized programs that utilize best practices for developing a culture of health. Contact us to find out how we can help your company improve the health and well-being of your most valuable asset.

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Three Factors Determine Wellness Program Success

Worksite wellness programs can reap strong ROI and have positive financial benefits on employers’ health care costs. According to recent research, the economic success of these programs is dependent on three factors:

• Establishing clear goals or expectations for the program over a defined period of time
• The primary focus of the program (disease management vs. lifestyle programs)
• Using best practices to enhance overall program success

Goals
An employers' goals can focus on concrete measures such as reduced health care utilization, which can be measured; or softer measures, such as greater productivity, increased presenteeism or higher morale, which are harder to quantify.

Program Focus
Wellness initiatives generally focus on two areas, as mentioned previously: disease management and lifestyle programs. Both play important roles in employee well-being; however, with regard to ROI, current research from the RAND Corporation suggests that disease management programs have demonstrated significant savings, while lifestyle programs show a lower level of direct return.

Looking at the ratio of reductions in health care costs to program cost, RAND determined that the overall ROI for worksite wellness programs is $1.50, whereas returns for the individual components differ dramatically. The ROI for disease management programs is $3.80 but drops to $0.50 for lifestyle management initiatives.

While RAND researchers do not think lifestyle management programs are worth the investment, other highly regarded professionals such as Leonard Berry, who wrote “What’s the Hard Return on Employee Wellness Programs?” for the Harvard Business Review, disagree. Berry notes: "Although some health risk factors, such as heredity, cannot be modified, focused education and personal discipline can change others, such as smoking, physical inactivity, weight gain, and alcohol use — and, by extension, hypertension, high cholesterol, and even depression. The results are worth the effort." Other researchers have found that the ROI from lifestyle interventions accrues over time and needs to be measured in the long term, noting that employers need to get ahead of illnesses to control and manage employee healthcare costs.

Best Practices
Most researchers agree that ultimately the success of a wellness program lies in adoption of best practices including: the development of a wellness culture supported by all levels of management through visible participation, effective and creative communications with employees that are continually refined and delivered through diverse media, offering a variety of accessible activities and pursuits, and ongoing programmatic assessment with methods for employee input.

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