NORTH LOGAN, UT- March 1, 2010 – Studies show that worksite health promotion programs improve the health behaviors and conditions of employees, while significantly decreasing medical and absenteeism costs. Studies also show savings from these programs far outweigh the costs, with medical cost savings averaging $3.48 and absenteeism savings averaging $5.82 per dollar invested in a worksite health promotion program (The Health Promotion First Act, by David Anderson, Ph.D.).
The Sports Academy, a fitness club in Logan, Utah, first began offering a comprehensive Corporate Wellness Plan in 2006 and currently has more than 100 companies enrolled.
Riley Wimberly, V.P. Human Resources from D.L.V. Thiokol/ATK, said his employees have been enrolled in the Sports Academy’s Corporate Wellness program for four years. He said he has seen an increase in employee effectiveness through involvement in the program.
“Thiokol Defense and launch vehicles division encourages employee participation in physical fitness activities because we believe that there is a positive correlation between physical health and mental health. A healthy employee will be a more effective employee. Therefore we subsidize employee memberships to selected health clubs,” Wimberly said.
Daily exercise contributes to the prevention and lowering of diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease. An active lifestyle also helps release tension and stress and minimizes medical costs for illness, prescriptions and sports related injuries.
When companies enroll in the Sports Academy’s Corporate Wellness Program, each employee receives a fitness evaluation and orientation, access to nutrition and fitness seminars and monthly tracking and fitness challenges, all facilitated by the Academy’s qualified and professional staff. Employees have full access to the Sports Academies group fitness classes, fitness equipment, pool and spa, basketball, racquetball and tennis courts and other academies for improved health.
Employees aren’t the only one’s who benefit from a Corporate Wellness Program. Employers also see the benefits qualifying for health insurance discounts and decreasing the amount paid for employee sick leave because of improved health. Corporate Wellness Plans also exemplify a concerned management, which improves employee loyalty.
Wes Archibald, Sports Academy membership manager, said Corporate Wellness Plans benefit both the employee and employer of a participating company.
“Healthy employees equal happy employees,” Archibald said. “By enrolling in a Corporate Wellness Plan, employees will relieve stress through daily exercise and minimize medical costs from improved health and prevention of life-threatening diseases. These factors will result in more productive, creative employees that will improve your company. Wellness plans work.”
The Sports Academy & Racquet Club is a family health club whose mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and contribute to the betterment of the community by helping young people acquire a positive self-esteem through the development and advancement to a competitive level, increasing the physical and emotional well-being of individuals through an improvement of health, offering an opportunity for family recreation and providing a full-fitness facility for the benefit of the community and the improvement of the lives of its people.
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