Research proves that employee wellness directly affects expenses associated with workers’ compensation claims, says Timothy K. Michels, Esq., and COO of IWIF. In 2010, 68% of the U.S. population was overweight or obese, according to The Johns Hopkins University, and by 2030, 86% of the U.S. population is projected to be overweight or obese. “Many of America’s children are already overweight, and studies show they will continue to remain overweight into their 20s and 30s—at the exact time when they will be entering the workforce,” Michels says. Another recent study at Duke University found that medical claim costs per 100 workers averaged $7,500 for those with a normal body mass index (BMI). They averaged more than $19,000 for those considered mildly obese, $23,000 for those whose BMI fell in the moderately obese range and $51,000 for those workers who were severely obese. On top of these costs, insurers and employers must bear additional cost burdens for higher medical equipment expenses and increased medication costs for overweight/obese individuals. Michels says that in order to lower costs associated with healthcare premiums and workers’ compensation claims costs, employers must create a workplace wellness program that encourages employees to adopt healthy lifestyle attitudes including healthy eating habits, regular exercise, stress reduction techniques and smoking cessation programs. It is clear, he says, that these programs can promote employee wellness and increase savings on healthcare and workers’ compensation expenses. For previous blog posts on workers’ compensation, click here and here.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers