How to reduce healthcare costs by improving employee health

Employers have begun to realize that the health of their employees is something they should be investing in. Employee health has become a huge factor in whether a company is profitable or not. Employers have begun to realize that intervention and prevention are much more productive, then trying to deal with problems after they have arrived. To help with this employers have begun offering employee wellness program, to help their employees make better choices and improve their wellbeing. However, there are other steps that can be easily taken to help your employees get and stay healthier. Here is what you need to know about how to reduce healthcare costs by improving employee health-

• Keep the office clean-This may seem obvious, however, studies show that almost a day's worth of work, is lost, per employee simply because of the common cold. Simply disinfecting your office can save you a lot of money. You should have a policy in place that everything that gets touched frequently (telephones, lights, doorknobs, filing cabinet, keyboards, etc), should also get disinfected frequently. You should also encourage hand washing, from every employee as well.
• Consider the emotional needs of your employees-Employers are starting to understand that good health goes far beyond just the physical. Many companies are working to address the emotional needs of their employees with mental health services. There should be a system in place that can help any employee suffering from mental health issues, find the resources they need.
• Support your sick time policy-Many companies offer sick time and then frown when their employees use it. The reality is that this benefit can aid in promoting health, increasing production and lower turnover rates. Management needs to require that employees stay home when they are sick. If an employee realizes that he will not face discipline, for staying home when they are sick, they are more likely to use it only when they need to. Keep inmind that the risk of infecting healthy co-workers is not worth the limited productivity of the sick employee.
• Offer a wellness program-Health insurance analysts have shown that employers who offer a wellness program, eventually end up paying much lower health insurance premiums then companies who don't. Keep in mind that even if your company is small you can offer wellness program benefits to your employees. Rather then putting in an onsite gym, you can offer gym membership reimbursements. You can offer free pedometers to your employees and give them incentives to make a certain number of goals everyday. You change out high fat and sugary snacks in the vending machines, for more nutritional choices. Offer classes and other seminars that will teach your employees the importance of certain health measures. Whatever you decide to do, keep in mind that even small changes can make a big difference in the overall health of your employees.
• Minimize the cost of insurance-While this can seem like a tall order, it can be done. Employers should take the time to carefully research their insurance costs and make sure that they are getting the best deal possible. By getting several new quotes each year, from several different insurance sources, employers can feel confident that they are getting the fairest price possible and the best coverage, for their office. In addition, employers should consider using policies that pay for preventive care. While these policies may seem more expensive upfront, it has been shown that when preventive care is not covered, few employees get the regular checkups and screening that they need. This results in more serious diagnosis when problems are discovered and more time and money, to treat them.