Recent events have driven home the need for healthy employees. Apart from COVID protocols, companies across the world are turning to non-traditional health programs as proactive measures. These occupational health programs often promote healthy living, such as exercise, while making health initiatives accessible and affordable to their employees. The question management often wonders is whether or not the return is worth the investment. Measuring the success of a company’s wellness program is essential, but it can also be very difficult. That’s why you need to know the key metrics often used to determine the success of an employee wellness program.
Importance of Evaluating the Success of your Program
It can be extremely difficult to measure the impact of a wellness program because there are so many factors contributing to employee health. According to a study conducted by Optum, only 42% of employers report that they can accurately demonstrate the value of health and wellness in their company. To properly evaluate a wellness program, companies must first determine the objective of the program and then select metrics that line up with the objective. Use the following metrics to get started!
3 Ways to Measure Success
Metrics are dependent upon goals but there are three primary KPIs that most companies track when implementing an employee wellness campaign.
1. Financial
Instituting a wellness program can lower healthcare costs for the company overall. According to a study done by Deloitte in the United Kingdom, companies can expect to receive a return on investment (ROI) of $4 to $6 for every $1 spent on a nontraditional health program. Track your occupational health costs over time and look for a downward trend in both expenditure and work hours lost.
2. Reduction in Injuries and Sick Days
Look at the number of workplace injuries and sick days taken before and after implementing the wellness program. This quantitative measure can show whether or not the program is truly helping to improve employee health and wellness.
3. Employee Morale
A non-tangible but extremely important measure of the success of your wellness program is an improvement in employee morale. Numbers can’t always capture success and, while this is not a quantifiable metric, it can provide great insight into how effective the program is. Employees who feel cared for by their company are more likely to have better attitudes and work output.
If you want to read a more in-depth analysis of how to properly evaluate your company’s program, the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) and Population Health Alliance (PHA) developed a guidebook that outlines the best methods to use in evaluation.
We Can Help!
Work Health Solutions has made it our mission to help provide necessary healthcare for those who need it, especially in the working environment. We understand the difficulty of taking care of employees in the workplace, and if you need help putting together a strategy, contact us today.
