Five Considerations for Selecting a Workplace Wellness Program: How to Achieve Strong ROI for Employers & Long-Term Benefits for Employees
In the fast-paced world of business, ensuring the well-being of employees has become a top priority for innovative employers. A successful wellness program not only fosters a culture of healthier and happier employees, but also yields impressive returns on investment (ROI) for the employer. According to a study done by Harvard researchers, for every dollar a company spends on preventative workplace wellness, medical costs will fall by $3.27 and absenteeism also drops by $2.73. That amounts to a 6-to-1 ROI.
By carefully considering the needs of both parties, companies can implement wellness initiatives that strike a balance between achieving financial gains and nurturing the long-term well-being of their workforce.
Here are five crucial considerations to keep in mind when selecting a wellness program:
1. Tailored to Employee Population Needs
A successful wellness program starts with a deep understanding of the diverse needs and preferences of your workforce. Consider factors such as physical health, mental well-being, stress management, and work-life balance. As the leading cause of death internationally, reducing heart disease should be a major area of focus for any impactful workplace wellness program. cardioriskSCORE assesses each employee’s individual risk of heart disease and provides personalized, data-driven insights to help them understand and reduce their risk, leading to increased quality-adjusted life years per employee screened to traditional workplace programs.By tailoring the wellness program to address the specific needs of the employee population, employers can ensure higher engagement and participation, resulting in a more impactful ROI.
2. Data-driven Approach to Well-being
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all, blanketed approaches to workplace wellness. A data-driven approach that accounts for employees’ genetic risk of debilitating diseases like heart disease is key. Each employee’s genetics and lifestyle combination confer a different risk; a well-rounded wellness program acknowledges and supports this complexity. Considering an innovative program like cardioriskSCORE, which enables employers to provide their employees with information on their personal risk through a noninvasive DNA test, yields greater value for employers and employees alike. Employers are able to more effectively support a healthy, happy workforce with a data-driven approach and employees are supported by their employer to become the healthiest version of themselves.
3. Proven cost-effectiveness
To ensure measurable and impactful ROI for employers, benefits managers should focus on programs which let the numbers speak for themselves. Workplace health programs which look at genetic risk over multiple genes and integrate a polygenic risk score (PRS) testing for cardiovascular disease have been proven to be cost-effective, and simultaneously improve employee quality of life, and lower both health costs and productivity loss for employers. CardioriskSCORE combines PRS testing with ongoing digital support through the Allelica Health Assistant App to ensure that employees are provided with guidance from start to finish.
4. Technologically sleek & user friendly
In today’s digital age, technology can play a pivotal role in enhancing wellness initiatives. Consider implementing wellness platforms or apps that allow employees to set goals, track progress, and access resources conveniently, ensuring that the solution is accessible for employees with variable levels of technological savvy. These platforms can provide personalized recommendations based on individual health data and improve commitment to achieve health goals to create a sense of community through challenges and social interactions. Technology not only increases engagement but also provides valuable data for employers to measure the program’s effectiveness and ROI.
5. Measurable Outcomes
To gauge the success of a wellness program, clear and measurable outcomes must be established from the outset. Set specific goals such as reducing absenteeism by a certain percentage, improving employee engagement scores, or achieving a decline in healthcare costs. Regularly track and analyze key metrics to evaluate the program’s impact and adjust strategies as needed. Measuring outcomes not only demonstrates the ROI to stakeholders but also guides continuous improvement.
A well-designed wellness program is a win-win for both employers and employees. By considering employee needs, selecting programs with proven results, relying on the data, leveraging technology, and establishing measurable outcomes, companies can create wellness initiatives that yield strong ROI and foster long-term benefits. Prioritizing employee well-being by utilizing a program like cardioriskSCORE not only leads to a healthier workforce but also to increased productivity, improved job satisfaction, and a positive organizational reputation.
For more information on cardioriskSCORE, schedule a 30 minute meeting or send us an email at info@allelica.com today.
