Worksite Wellness Plan Return On Investment

For well over a decade, research has been showing the effectiveness of Workplace Wellness Programs. For every dollar spent on Workplace Wellness Programs, the returns have been cost savings of between $2.30 and $10.10 in the areas of decreased absenteeism, fewer sick days, reduced WSIB/WCB claims, lowered health and insurance costs, and improvements to worker performance and productivity.

Statistics do show that Workplace Wellness Programs increase worker morale, improve the ability to attract and retain key staff members, all while having more alert and productive staff members. Some Worksite Wellness Plan return on investment statistics of note:

• Canada Life Insurance reported a return of $3.43 on Workplace Wellness Program, and an overall Worksite Wellness Plan return on investment of $6.85 on each company dollar invested on reduced turnover (32.4% lower), productivity gains and decreased medical claims,
• DuPont’s Worksite Wellness Plan pilot sites saw a saving of 11,726 disability days and a return of U.S. $2.05 for every dollar invested by the end of the second year,
• The Canadian government’s Worksite Wellness Plan return on investment was $1.95-$3.75 per worker per dollar spent (as reported by Dr. Roy Shephard),
• Municipal staff members in Toronto, missed 3.35 fewer days in the first six months of their Worksite Wellness Plan than staff members not enrolled in the program,
• British Columbia Hydro staff members enrolled in a Worksite Wellness Plan had a turnover rate of just 3.5% compared with a Business average of 10.3 percent,
• Johnson & Johnson estimated an average saving of U.S. $224.66 per worker per year for the four years examined after the program introduction, with the bulk of the savings being in the third and fourth years,
• Pacific Bell reported that overall absenteeism decreased after beginning a Workplace Wellness Program,
• Coca Cola report saving $500 every year per worker after beginning a Workplace Wellness Program, with only 60% of their staff members taking part,
• Coors Brewing Co. reported that for every dollar spent on their Worksite Wellness Plan they saw a $5.50 return, and the staff members who participated reduced their absentee rate by 18 percent, and
• Prudential Insurance Company reported that the benefits costs for staff members taking part in their program were $312, as opposed to $574 for non-members