Businesses today cannot afford not to have a wellness program.
That's according to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, which focused on health care and wellness during a Connect and Collaborate luncheon on Tuesday at the Scott College of Business at Indiana State University.
"You cannot afford not to make an effort on wellness," said Kevin Brinegar, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. "Screenings, body mass index, immunizations [and] flu shots are all things that help keep employees healthy, and make for a better workforce."
Mary Ann Conroy, executive director of Terre Haute Regional Hospital, agreed.
"Wellness focuses on the future," Conroy said. "You want to see the results tomorrow, but you will see them in the years to come."
Those attending the luncheon heard tips to reduce health care costs for their companies and how to promote wellness programs that pay off in fewer sick days and more productivity.
The success of Indiana¹s economy is tied directly to the health of the workforce, Brinegar said. Indiana is ranked 41st in the nation in the health of the population, with obesity and smoking being major concerns. When talking about the skills and ability needed by employees to do their jobs, the health of the workforce should also be a concern, he said.
Statistically, obese workers have seven times more medical claims, and the average smoker costs about $5,800 more in health care than a nonsmoker.
Chuck Gillespie with the Wellness Council of Indiana said employers should align their wellness strategy with their business¹ mission. Part of the mission should be that everyone comes to work every day healthy and able to work.
Assessing the workplace environment and identifying issues also turns wellness into part of the workplace culture, he said. If the environment allows certain behaviors, such as smoking or offering vending machines with unhealthy products, those are environmental issues that can be changed.
He also recommended focusing on key measurements for the business, such as how often people are absent from work and for what reasons. Performance reviews and retention of employees are also areas that employers can control to maintain a healthy workplace.
Gillespie also recommended good communications when wellness programs are in place. Keeping employees informed about their options can get them excited about even a so-so wellness program, but a good wellness program will fail if no one knows about.
Jacque Pentell of Forrest Sherer also shared wellness solutions from a health care insurance provider point of view.
Helping employees be smart consumers of health care by establishing a wellness program and sharing medical care costs and rates can encourage people to keep the health care costs down.
If some employees become ³problem children² with their attitudes or their lifestyles, make those people part of the wellness committee so they will have some buy-in to make the program successful, she said.
Pentell said she visited with one business that had created a wellness recipe book for its employees. A rule of carry-in meals at work was that all food had to be based on the wellness recipes.
Another company set up cornhole games in an area that people could play on their lunch hours. That activity promoted teambuilding and social skills.
Gillespie pointed out that activities such as the cornhole tournament look beyond physical well-being to mental and social well-being, which are also important for good employee health.
A question from Kathryn Berlin of ISU sought how to get ³unhealthy² people into wellness programs. Usually, she said, the already healthy people are those who participate in wellness programs.
Pentell said that having designated "cheerleaders" to encourage fellow workers is one way to build more participation.
And Brinegar pointed out that having guest speakers talk to employees about important issues can promote wellness. Having a financial adviser come in to talk about retirement planning, savings or finances encourages people to think ahead and can reduce employee stress levels.
"Financial concerns and financial stress are one of the most predominant things on employees¹ minds," Brinegar said, ³so if you can address that, it helps"
A newer effort that the Indiana Chamber has taken up in the legislature is the repeal of the "Smokers' Bill of Rights," which was passed in the 1990's to give employees protection, the same as is given for age, race, gender and other status.
"The Indiana Chamber believes smoking does not rise to the same level of protection as those others," he said, "so if the legislature repeals this, businesses can ask prospective employees if they smoke or use tobacco."
It will help employers keep their health insurance costs down if they are allowed to refuse to hire people who smoke, he said.
The Wellness Council also offers speakers who can visit with businesses and their employees about making wellness changes.