December 2005

More companies implementing health practices

If you are interested in breaking into the corporate consulting market, now may be the time to do it. According to a survey released by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the National Business Group on Health, a growing number of large employers are boosting efforts to improve their workers’ health and productivity.

Furthermore, employers that are aggressively implementing health and productivity practices are seeing lower costs, reduced lost time, and improved worker health.

All of these findings can mean opportunities to healthcare providers who want to work in the corporate market.

The 2005/2006 Staying@Work Survey found that more than four out of 10 (41 percent) employers already incorporate health and productivity initiatives into their overall health care planning, while nearly one-third (32 percent) plan to do so within the next year. A total of 275 employers participated in the survey, which examined the prevalence and effectiveness of employee health and productivity practices.

Of particular interest to chiropractors are the specific findings of the survey concerning health and productivity practices:

• Employee assistance programs — 94 percent in 2005 or 2006;

• Return-to-work program — 81 percent;

• Health promotion programs —75 percent;

• Health risk appraisals — 72 percent

• Work and family balance — 71 percent;

• Personal health coach/advocate — 40 percent.

Additional findings:

• Currently, 50 percent of organizations provide incentives for employees to improve or maintain their health; and

• The issues that most affect employee productivity are stress (72 percent), personal/family issues (59 percent), chronic medical conditions (58 percent), unscheduled absences (57 percent), presenteeism (49 percent), and lifestyle medical conditions (49 percent).

Copies of the 2005 Staying@Work Survey Report are available at www.watsonwyatt.com/.

Source: Watson Wyatt, www.watsonwyatt.com

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