When employees are out due to illness - whether it's a day or two or extended over several weeks, business is affected greatly. The costs are great - especially for small businesses and their owners. Health insurance costs are continuously increasing to the point of putting small business owners in a much tougher spot than ever before experienced. Some businesses have had to recently pass more of the health insurance costs to their employees. Other businesses have opted to go to a "bare-bones" approach and pay less and less of the direct health insurance costs. Health insurance premiums for the self-employed are also rapidly increasing - often without warning.
The critical key to combat rising health-care costs for small business owners and self-employed professionals lies in the health, wellness and fitness of each employee. I think the only way to really get a handle on health care and the significant costliness of it is to make health, wellness and fitness a top priority for all employees - regardless of position in the business.
There are simple programs that will work to improve the health, wellness and fitness of the employee as well as improve the business as a whole. The benefits of such a program can include:
- reduction in sick leave costs and absenteeism
- increasing morale and reducing stress
- reduction in workman's comp claims
- higher energy and higher production levels
- more efficient employees
- lower health insurance costs
- bigger bottom line
There are several simple steps that all small business owners can easily implement. Some of them are listed here:
- offer employees memberships to gyms and fitness centers as a benefit
- have a fitness center on the premises
- provide time for fitness
- provide health and wellness fairs
- provide routine health screenings
- offer Pilates or yoga classes after work
- create a walking club for lunchtime exercise
There are many ways to improve health, wellness and fitness in the workplace - and the first way is to make it a priority. More to come on this topic ...
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