Health and Wellness in the Workplace

Running Head: HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE

Health and Wellness in the Workplace

Marina Villa

University of Phoenix

Health and Wellness in the Workplace

Business and Industry are looking to the concept of wellness with expectations that wellness programs can reverse some trends involving health, morale, and productivity. Health related programs such as: absenteeism, personnel turnover, replacement costs, and decreased employee morale are very costly to American business.

For example, in 1982 absenteeism cost industry an estimated $20 billion, not including sick time or time lost from the job. Health care costs came to more than $70 billion. Premature deaths costs $25 billion and heart attacks cost $700 million a year. The number of employees needing and using health benefits and reducing productivity is staggering. It has been estimated that for a corporation with 1000 employees, about 500 will have risks for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks, because 300 will be cigarette smokers and 150 will have high blood pressure. An additional 100 employees will have alcohol or drug related problems that are in need of treatment (Sperry, 1984).

Ten years ago, the policy of business was clear: the organization must provide a safe work environment, adequate disability benefits, and health insurance. There was very little being learned about preventive medicine or health promotion. The concept of wellness was not a part of people’s vocabulary then. Today, things are much different. Health care costs, decreasing productivity, and overall declining employee health and morale have led to policy changes. We now believe that the most efficient way to contain health care is to switch from a curative philosophy to prevention and health promotion or, wellness (Sperry, 1984).

Senator Tom Harkin recently introduced legislation that could encourage businesses to implement workplace wellness programs for their employees. The Healthy Workforce Act would provide...