Companies of all sizes are seeking ways to control employee absenteeism, improve productivity, and reduce annual employee turnover. Wellness programs in general and fitness programs in particular may be the only employee benefit which pays money back to the company. Several major companies have conducted studies, which show positive trends in benefit-to-cost return from corporate fitness programs. There are also intangible benefits, such as improvement of employee morale.

REDUCED HEALTH CARE COSTS

Medical claim costs were 55 percent lower among corporate fitness program participants than non-participants over a six-year period—an average of $478.61 for participants, versus $869.98 for non-participants at Steelcase Corporation.

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

80 percent of Union Pacific Railroad's employees believed their exercise program was helping them become more productive at work, and 75 percent thought regular exercise was helping them achieve higher levels of relaxation and concentration.

REDUCED ABSENTEEISM

Over a six year period, DuPont saw a 47.5 percent reduction in absenteeism among participants in its corporate fitness program.

REDUCED TURNOVER

The Canadian Life Assurance Company found turnover among its fitness program participants 34.4 percent lower over a seven-year period compared withnon-participants during that same time.

POSITIVE RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Over five years, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana realized a 250 percentreturn on its corporate fitness program investment—$2.51 for every $1 invested.

Source: MeritCare Health System, American Journal of Health Promotion, Health Values, Health Behavior and the Canadian Journal of Public Health