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Businesses can influence workers' health

04.19.2012

Businesses may have many occupational medicine goals in mind when they decide to launch efforts to support the health of their staff. Experts say that lower healthcare costs and improved worker productivity are generally at the top of the list of employers' considerations.

Scott Goudeseune, the CEO of the American Council on Exercise, said that businesses are increasingly looking for innovative ways to keep their workers healthy. With medical costs soaring, employers cannot afford to have many workers who have costly chronic illnesses. Preventive occupational medicine and wellness programs can help control these expenses.

"Innovations in workplace wellness tools and the adoption of workplace wellness programs are two of the most critical elements in reducing the cost of healthcare in the United States," he said.

A person spends a major portion of their waking hours at work. The behaviors they have in the office inevitably have a large influence on their overall health. If a person develops unhealthy habits while they are at work they are more likely to develop chronic medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that these diseases take up 75 percent of the nation's healthcare spending.

This is why it is important for businesses to find ways to support workers' health. Employers are in a strong position to influence the well-being of those who work for them. Doing so can benefit the business through lower healthcare costs, the individual through improved health and society at large through decreased disease burden and less healthcare spending.

Understanding these occupational medicine goals may help businesses see the importance of taking steps to support their workers' health.

Categories: Occupational Medicine