Savvy Fitness’ Workplace Wellness programs are designed to assist and support employees in establishing healthier lifestyles and to deliver the strategic outcomes necessary for creating a cost offset for the employer.

The various Workplace Wellness programs provided by Savvy Fitness include:

Congratulations for taking “The Fitness Challenge” – This is an ideal way for a company to begin a Workplace Wellness program. By implementing a Fitness Challenge you’ve taken the first step toward leading your company to a healthier lifestyle. We hope you will find the Fitness Challenge to be a simple, fun way for your employee to exercise at home or at work. The costs to organize this event are minimal as you and your employees exercise your way to improved health and well-being.

Awareness & Educational Programs – At this level a company makes health information available and accessible to employees. This type of program can include health education seminars, health information pamphlets, health articles in newsletters, bulletin board displays, healthy e-mail messages, etc. Additionally, most health fairs are designed as awareness & educational programs with vendors providing information and health screenings to employees. These programs are inexpensive and do not require extensive employee or company time commitments.

Activity & Educational Programs – Along with the educational component as described above, this program combination would include a number of activity classes to the employees at the workplace. These program cost the company a little more than the awareness & educational programs; however, they are still inexpensive and do not require a great deal of time for planning or implementing.

Behavioral Modification Programs – These programs are designed as 4 to 6 month series which provide activities that will balance muscular strength & flexibility, cardiovascular conditioning, nutritional education, and opportunities to practice the desired knowledge & skills that will nurture the individual through the dynamics of the behavioral change model.

Behavior change programs require more company resources, cost more, and also require more employee commitment, time and effort. The results are often the desired positive lifestyle change, which can lead to potential cost savings.

Comprehensive Workplace Wellness Programming – These programs incorporate the complete management of every element within a comprehensive Workplace Wellness Program. This option normally requires a full time Workplace Wellness Program Director and a staff of Fitness Professionals to deliver all of the programming needs.

There are Seven Benchmarks as outline by Wellness Councils of America that must be considered in order to ensure the success of any Workplace Wellness program. These Benchmarks include:

1. Capturing Senior Level Support
2. Creating a Cohesive Wellness Committee
3. Crafting an Operating Plan
4. Choose Appropriate Interventions
5. Creating a Supportive Environment
6. Collecting Data
7. Carefully Evaluate Outcomes

Programs and policies that promote healthy behaviors can make a difference on the employee’s health and have an impact on the company’s bottom line. Studies have shown that for every dollar invested by employers in Workplace Wellness programs, there were savings ranging from $1.49 to $4.91 with a median savings of $3.14 *US Department of Health & Human Services, 2003.

In business terms, that's more than a 3:1 minimum return on investment – a number that is hard to ignore, and a best practice that should warrant serious consideration from companies. In fact, a Workplace Wellness literature review posted in the Health Promotion Practitioner Journal found:

1. 19 studies showed a 28.3% reduction in sick leave
2. 16 studies demonstrated a 3:1 return on investment
3. 23 studies showed a 26.1% reduction in medical costs
4. 4 studies found a 30% reduction in direct medical and workers’ comp claims

There is little doubt that a comprehensive Workplace Wellness program targeted to meet a company’s specific goals and objectives can save money by reducing absenteeism, lowering healthcare expenditures, decreasing employee turnover, and increasing productivity.