In the face of rising healthcare costs, employers are hoping that investing in wellness programs will represent a bottom-line savings. But most companies aren’t spending enough up front to realize the 3-to-1 returns that some companies are reporting, according to an article in the Dayton Business Journal. Only about five percent of companies see cost savings from their programs, says the report.
Establishing a wellness program requires more than throwing a treadmill or two in the basement, the report suggests. The small percentage of companies who are seeing returns are those that hire professionals who can design a program that will save money, staffing the programs with professionals, and getting financial support and backing from high-level administrators in the company.