Employee Wellness Programs: A Strategic Investment for Business Productivity and Health

In the last two decades, companies across the country have focused on investing money in one of the most important aspects of their operation — their employees. By offering well-rounded employee wellness programs, businesses have realized the immense direct and indirect benefits they can provide, according to Dr. Gregory Duhon, MD.

Today, wellness programs are no longer a nice-to-have. Instead, they are a must-have for any company that wants to attract and retain top talent.  Below are some of the ways in which employee wellness programs can create an impactful and positive ROI for any company that offers them.

Recruitment and Retention  

When companies invest in their employees’ overall well-being, they are showing them that they care. In a competitive job market such as the one present today, this has become an essential aspect of recruitment and retention.

Employees are no longer solely motivated by salary, which means that everything else about the job becomes more emphasized. If your company doesn’t offer a comprehensive wellness program, it will be hard to compete against others in the market who are all trying to attract the same pool of talented workers.

Companies that offer a package that includes not just medical insurance but also paid time off, mental wellness resources and more are able to strategically position themselves atop the food chain for prospective workers.

Lower Costs 

An investment in employee wellness programs results in lower costs in a number of different areas. Companies that offer these programs are actually more likely to have lower healthcare costs.

Between 2002 and 2008, Johnson & Johnson reported that its investment in employee wellness programs saved them $250 million on their healthcare costs. For every dollar the company spent on wellness programs, they received $2.71 in return.

A Harvard Business Review study also revealed that, on average, companies experience an ROI of between $1.50 and $3 for every $1 they spend on these programs.

There aren’t too many other aspects of business that can provide this type of return for a business — and one that can have a lasting impact on not just the company but all of its employees’ lives.

Increased Productivity 

 The main reason why employee wellness programs result in such significant cost savings is the increased productivity that results from them. As Dr. Gregory Duhon, MD, points out, there are direct correlations that can be drawn between employee productivity and wellness.

When your employees feel mentally, emotionally and physically healthy, they’re more likely to be on their “A-game.” This comes from a few different aspects.

First, when employees are physically healthy, they are able to attend work more often. Employees who are often hurt or sick — or have to care for family members who are — miss work, and that leads to a decrease in production.

Second, when employees feel mentally and emotionally healthy, they’re more present, happier and more enthusiastic to take on tasks at hand. Employees who are more motivated are more likely to do their best at all times.

Employee wellness programs can do wonders for keeping employees healthy, which in turn helps to create a healthy business.

About Dr. Gregory Duhon, MD 

Dr. Gregory Duhon, MD, is the driving force behind American Consulting Physicians, a trailblazing telemedicine venture. As an accomplished Internal Medicine Physician and Hospitalist with a profound grasp of ICU, emergency room, and crisis/pandemic management, Dr. Duhon is leveraging his expertise to provide acute and chronic medical care services remotely across 15 states including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, and more.

His specialization in complex conditions and willingness to extend patient consultations underscore his commitment to elevating healthcare. Beyond his business pursuits, Dr. Duhon’s diverse interests encompass Ironman training, culinary exploration, passion fruit cultivation, and a dedication to advancing accessible and exceptional medical care.