Corporate Fitness
The Bottom Line
by Michael Davis
There is a bottom line result for Corporate America directly connected to physical fitness. Bettering the company fitness levels can potentially and strategically boost performance and trim the waistline and the expense in the workplace. These grueling and alarming statistics illustrate how real the threat is:
-
400,000 deaths / year in the US due to poor Diet and Sedentary (Physical Inactivity) Lifestyle
-
20% of Americans have high “Blood Pressure”
-
104.7 million Americans have high “Cholesterol”
-
798,000 New cases of “Type II Diabetes” (Adult onset – non-insulin dependent) / year
-
64.5% of US adults are “Overweight or Obese”
Obesity is an epidemic in our country and requires dramatic attention be given its adverse effects. For example, statistics show obese individuals have 30 - 50% more chronic (long term) health issues versus those who smoke and drink heavily. Our country is tremendously burdened with not only the ensuing health issues and extra weight the individuals bare on their backs, knees, and hearts but the trillions of dollars spent per year fighting this nationwide disease. More than smoking and heavy drinking, obesity is now considered the most significant contributor to increased health problems and rising health care costs in the United States.
In other words, the company is directly impacted by mismanaged, personal health care that affect the bottom line performance and expense structure. Whether you are a business owner, an employer, or a corporate officer, you are part of 15 billion reasons why this epidemic needs your attention. IHRSA reported employers across the nation are paying $15 billion annually due to obesity and poor health. Recent studies show that 9.1% of total annual medical care expenditures are directly related to obesity. The reports track over 20 million sick days reported last year which translates to over 57,794 working years racked up in one year due to weight sickness and poor health conditions.
Ironically, the benefits tremendously “outweigh” the costs of implementing a “Corporate Fitness” program. If every business truly looked at the statistics through the mindset of a diligent business acumen, the business case for small, medium, or large companies to install a fitness program immediately would be overwhelming. Here are a few of the many reasons why a business should implement a fitness based program for their employees: reduced health care cost, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, reduced turnover, and positive return on investment.
Reduced Health Care Cost
Over a 6 year study, the American Journal of Health Promotion found a 55% decrease in medical claims amongst companies that participated in a corporate fitness program versus non-participating companies. The average costs per employee for the participating companies were $478.61 versus the non-participating companies that stockpiled an average cost of $869.98 per employee.
Increased Productivity
Health Value reports 80% of workers that participate in a corporate fitness program state their energy levels were higher and their productivity increased. 75% of the participant groups also noticed higher levels of relaxation and concentration. The Health Partners of Minneapolis conducted a study in which demonstrated fit workers or normal weight workers performed better, produced more, were absent less and worked with co-workers better and more efficiently versus workers who did not participate in a fitness program and were overweight
Reduced Absenteeism
Health Value reported a 47.5% decrease in absenteeism among workers who participated in a corporate fitness program.
Reduced Turnover
The Canadian Life Assurance Company conducted a study among workers who participated and workers who did not participate in their company’s fitness program. They concluded there was a 34.4% lower turnover rate with participants versus non-participants over a 7 year period.
Positive ROI (Return on Investment)
The American Journal of Health Promotion reviewed Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Indiana over a 5 year period and concluded the ROI on an in house corporate fitness program was 250%. The average healthcare savings was $3.48 to every $1.00 spent on work-site promotion. They have reported savings as high as $6.00 for every $1.00 spent on wellness and incentives.
The solution is simple and the benefits tremendously outweigh the cost: increased productivity, elevated morale and a potentially robust ROI. The business investment is clear and your company needs to weigh in. It is a flaw to ignore the critical evidence because it points to the value every small, medium, or large business should place on their employees’ health. There are too many benefits for corporate America to ignore this epidemic. Create, incentivize, and implement healthy living and exercise programs at the work-place to increase your company’s… bottom line.
