A sk any C-lcvcl executive what issues keep them up at night, and you" 11 hear many similar topics: rising healthcare costs, falling retention rates, and overall employee engagement, to name a few. Yes. company leaders in the comer office care about revenue and overall profits, yet more arc beginning to realize that healthy and happy employees mean better business. The Evolution of Corporate Wellness Programs As the focus on health and wellness continues to be a board-level conversation, corporate wellness programs continue to gain in popularity. In 2006. 19% of companies with 500 or more employees reported offering wellness programs'. Two years later, a similar study on employee health and pro-ductivitv management programs2 found that 77% of large manufacturers offer some general wcllncss program. Companies turn to these types of programs often based on what they're hearing in the marketplace and on different philosophical beliefs of what corporate wcllncss should entail. For some, corporate wcllncss means having a partnership with the local YMCA. where employees are encouraged to work out and be healthier. Others offer lunch walking clubs or healthy snacks throughout the day. Many larger companies also arc beginning to take an on-sitc approach to wcllncss. From a dedicated treadmill and stationary bike in the back office to fully furnished on-sitc gyms staffed by personal trainers, corporate wcllncss is a modem phenomenon that didn"t exist 20 years ago. Take for example Google, the global technology leader that helps connect people with information. The wcllncss offering at Google's California-based headquarters is one of the most highly touted programs in the world. It is based on the company's belief that wellness is the key ingredient to living a healthy, happy, and productive life, both personally and professionally. The company offers nutrition programs, daily classes, and access to an on-sitc gym and trainers, all connected to the premise tliat healthy and happy people become productive and happy employees. Google is a great example of how corporate wellness can be done effectively, but the reality is that companies of all sizes should consider the importance of wellness programs as part of an integrated strategy. What an Integrated Programs Means For an effective corporate wellness program, there must be foundational pieces that all drive toward a specific goal—a healthier business. At Cultivate. we've seen this firsthand. Ten years ago. Standard Process, our parent company, set out to create a healthier business for the long-term sustainability of the company, employees, and their families. It started with very humble beginnings. A few employees fostered the idea of a lunchtime walking program where they would do laps of the campus in central Wisconsin. Gradually, it increased to nutritional counseling. The addition of a workout room was a major step, and state-of-the-art equipment was installed to increase interest and usage among employees. On-site medical experts were brought into the office to conduct check-ins and regular blood pressure screenings. Nutritionists helped people get back on track toward a healthier lifestyle by consulting about eating habits. Throughout the program's development, several key lessons were observed. First, the importance of daily, regular care and action needs to be a priority. Having an action plan that each employee can implement, at his or her own level, is critical. Second, the ongoing, continued education on the value of nutrition is equally as important. However, by far the most important of these lessons was to keep score. With each initiative, the on-site leadership team, working with company leadership, set key metrics and maintained this data over time. These metrics were then aligned with both medical billing claims and key employee health indicators—cholesterol levels. blood sugar levels, and overall musculoskeletal claims. Over time, two elements emerged as being critical to the effectiveness of the program—availability to programs on-site and the importance of a skilled chiropractic professional as the wcllncss liaison. Defining On-Site and Why it Matters On-site was the first key decision the company made because ol a locus on employee health lirst. Our philosophy was simple: if people are healthier, they arc happier and more productive. According to the 2013 RAND Health Workplace Wellness Programs Study. 76% of employers offering corporate w ell-ness programs provide on-site vaccinations.-' Yet of these same employers, only 5% maintain an on-site clinic.' So with that as a backdrop, the question becomes: What should an effective on-site program look like, and ultimately, can it work? Key Components of an On-site Program On-site wellness offerings provide several key components to employers, including: 1 .Improved productivity from the ease of visiting the on-site wellness expert versus going to see an off-site wellness expert. 2.Enhanced patient compliance to care plans as a result of the proximity to doctors. 3.Peace of mind for employees and the knowledge tliat there is an on-site expert is available to them at any time during the day. 4.Ability for on-site professionals to proactivcly identify potential safety hazards on production floors and create near-immediate enhancements. 5. Accountability for the employees to help them achieve their goals and for the employer to support the ongoing analysis of program effectiveness. When these aspects of an on-sitc program are initially established, success can quickly follow. At Standard Process, the on-site approach was critical. On-site chiropractors make personal, long-term connections with employees, holding them accountable for both their nutritional and daily physical activities. They can more immediately identify" areas of concern within the work site that might be causing long-term pain or poor habits. Chiropractors also work closely with HR team leaders to monitor healthcare claims and overall costs to ensure positive health progress is occurring. Most importantly, their training and understanding of the human body, coupled with their varied experiences with nutrition, body alignment, and more make chiropractors ideal on-site wellness expert. The Value of Chiropractic to On-Site Wellness At the core of our corporate wellness initiatives are chiropractors. These skilled doctors bring experience and knowledge of the human body, especially the musculoskeletal system, which is applicable to all work environments. From traditional manufacturing facilities to white-collar office complexes, chiropractors are the perfect experts to incorporate into corporate wellness programs. Their ability to create immediate, on-sitc changes for day-to-day workforce-related activities can positively impact employees. A chiropractor's knowledge of posture-related studies, such as ergonomics, coupled with increasing work in nutritional consulting make a DC the perfect choice to address the challenges facing employees. Pundits argue that fora truly "best in class" on-site corporate wellness program, a team of on-site experts would be required to understand the full array of medical challenges that arise at each organization, and we would agree. Standard Process has utilized a team approach for several years, with the on-site chiropractor as the primary leader and on-sitc consultant who relies on additional outside experts when needed. If data is any indicator of success, it appears to be working. Results Changing Business, Lives Cher the course of 10 years of program updates, the Cultivate program at Standard Process has reduced the company's healthcare claims by 45% from participating employees. Employee turnover rate has been reduced to less than three percentage points, nearly three times lower than industry standards. In addition, annual healthcare cost per employee, a significant financial commitment for any employer, lias been reduced some $13,000 year over year. From a business health standpoint, the program has helped to move the needle in the right direction, freeing up capital to reinvest in our employees and the company. Yet the results are also translating to employees and their families. Of participating employees, the average blood sugar levels are down 7% over the course of the wellness program. Healthy levels of HDL cholesterol are up 12%. while the unhealthy LDL levels arc down 11%. Finally, the Cultivate program is changing lives beyond the Standard Process operating walls. Healthy business leads to healthy employees and healthy homes. Spousal claims from participating employees that are covered by our corporate insurance plans were down 18% over the course of the program, proving that once habits are established, they are carried out at multiple phases of life. As organizations continue to search for the secret formula for hcaltln and happy employees, there likely isn't a perfect solution. Each corporation has its own needs and challenges. What is clear, though, is tliat without an action plan, progress won't be made. To develop healthy businesses and employees, the decision must start from the top down. Leadership must embrace the value that employees bring each day. no matter what the product. On-sitc corporate wellness programs are here to stay, and those that break through the clutter will be the ones that gather the right data with the right on-sitc team of experts to show case business results. By aligning programs with skilled chiropractors, companies can take an important step toward healthier, happier tomorrows. Jerry Curtin is the president and general manager of Cultivate bv StandaniPmcess, anew on-site corporate wellness initiative based in Palmvra, Wisconsin. To learn more, visit www.cultivateon-site.com. References: Consulting\MR. Xationalsurvey of employer-sponsoredhealth plans: 2006 su/vev report. Sew York Capps K, HarkevJB. Employee Health & Productivity Manage ment Pmgrams; 2008 Workplace Wellness Report, 1UXD Health, 2013 (http: aspe.hhs. govhsp 13 Workplace Wellness/rptwellness.cfm) 4. Workplace Wellness Report, RAND Health, 2013 (http://aspe. hhs.gov/hsp/l3/WorkplaceWellness/rpt_wellness.cfm)
