Risk & Business Magazine Knight Archer Insurance Spring 2017 | Page 29

HEALTHY EMPLOYEES
smoking, and stress
• Personal Health Records so they
can better manage their health
information
• A library of current and reputable
sources of health and wellness
information
•
A goal-setting tool to measure
progress towards achieving healthy
goals
Employers can review all of this
information to better understand and
follow their plan members’ health
trends in order to monitor Extended
Health Care Costs and productivity.
These programs work! The Public
Health Agency of Canada reported that
a physical activity program improved
productivity and reduced employee
absenteeism. One company specifically
observed a return on investment of
$6.85 per dollar invested. A Sun Life
study also determined that wellness
programs can reduce absenteeism by
1.5 days per year, a cost savings of an
estimated $251 per year per employee.
Both employers and employees are
recognizing the importance of these
programs. Of the one hundred top
employers in Canada, 77 have wellness
programs. These employers state that
wellness programs have either met or
exceeded their expectations. Their
HR directors believe the wellness
programs have positive impacts for
their businesses in terms of decreased
insurance costs, less absenteeism,
and less employee turnover. Wellness
programs also lead to greater employee
productivity and motivation while also
enhancing recruitment opportunities
in a competitive employment market.
By investing in a wellness program,
employers can realize long-term
positive impacts for their or ganization
now and even more so in the future. +
BY: BRENNAN BOYKO
GROUP BENEFITS ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVE, KNIGHT ARCHER
INSURANCE BROKERS
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