In an era of job cuts and tight budgets, maintaining workplace wellness programs is not only good for the health of employees, but also for the bottom line, according to the experts at the recent 8th annual Healthy Outcomes Conference in Whistler, B.C.
Hewitt Canada’s benefits practice leader, Tim Clarke, explored the links between health and employee engagement, and explained that engaged employees “say, stay and strive.” Workers that are healthy and happy in their jobs consistently talk about their company in a positive light (say), have an intense desire to be a member of the company (stay) and exert extra effort that contributes to the company’s’ success (strive).
While there’s no wellness program available to fix today’s economy, the further along an unhealthy worker is in the disease process, the more costly it is to the employer in terms of short-and long-term disability, according to Frederic Lavoie, director of patient access with Pfizer Canada. He suggested that reducing employee physical inactivity by 10% could potentially reduce direct healthcare expenditures in Canada by $150 million a year.
“From a pharmaceutical standpoint, we’re doing a very good job,” he said. “It’s easier for a doctor to write a prescription than it is for an employer to invest in counseling. What we have to do is change the mindset of society.”
Doug Smeall, assistant vice-president of business development, health management services, group benefits with Sunlife Financial, emphasized the fact that changing a company’s corporate culture has to come first, before any of its employees will change their behaviours.
He stressed the importance of access to the right care at the right time for ill employees, be it in the form of counseling, prescription drugs, therapy or other types of support.
Dr. Alain Sotto, chief physician at Ontario Power Generation and occupational medical consultant for the Toronto Transit Commission, described the success that these organizations have had with their respective Colon Cancer Screening Programs.
Sotto is also a member of Canada’s Corporate Roundtable on Cancer Control. Their mission is to develop, test and implement a comprehensive workplace cancer standard and strategy that will improve the understanding of how to control cancer through improved prevention, screening, support and access. That strategy will be officially launched in September of this year.
The final session of the conference was presented by Dr. Fikry Isaac of Johnson & Johnson. His company’s wellness initiatives in the U.S. date back to 1978 and are now a harmonized part of their human resources policy. The fact that Johnson & Johnson’s wellness program saves the company $8.55 million annually presents a strong case for businesses in Canada to follow suit.
“It doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive,” said Paul Foley, director of private health plans with Shoppers Drug Mart. “Simple can still work. Physical activity, nutrition and smoking abstinence—if you’re hitting those three modifiables, you can still make a big impact.”
Cindy Mark is Conferences Editor for the Rogers Business and Professional Publishing Group.
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