Take a (Nutritious) Bite out of Healthcare Costs
03/29/07
“I expect you to be here on time, turn in your paperwork, and eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day.”
It’s a challenge being echoed by bosses across the nation. To help combat rising healthcare costs, companies are doing more than sharing the financial burden with their employees; many are also encouraging workers to eat better and exercise more. Their mission? To alleviate the countless health problems that arise from poor nutrition, obesity and inactivity.
Facts … and Figures
The statistics are staggering. According the Department of Health and Human Services, US industry loses $13 billion and 39.3 million workdays every year due to employees’ obesity-related health problems. With 65 percent of American adults overweight and spending half their waking hours on the job (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more companies are realizing their need to take a more active role in improving their workers’… and in turn, their company’s health.
A Small Investment, a Big Difference
Employers have found that tactics such as mandatory stretch breaks and walking programs are making a difference. So are such things as organizing teams and setting up educational opportunities to teach employees about the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. Some corporations are even offering gifts or cash incentives to employees who stop smoking and start working out instead.
And you don’t need a gym. By simply encouraging those employees who can to park farther away from the building and walk, or to take the stairs instead of the elevator, you are doing them and your business a service.
Expand Food Choices
Some companies are helping their employees make better nutritional choices by making their fattier cafeteria offerings more expensive than their healthier ones. Others are offering more nutritious selections on snack carts and in frequently stocked vending machines. With employee’s spending so many hours of the day at work, they need to have healthy options within arm’s reach.
Exercise Good Judgment
Be creative, be tactful, and be supportive. Get the buy-in of your company’s top leaders. A little effort on everyone’s part will go a long way to reducing costs - and waistlines - while boosting morale.