Case Study No

Discuss some of the choices that an employee may make to help control health costs.

Looking further into the effects of health care. It is overlooked that universal health care promotes better business by benefitting them. Firstly, which is done by the means of allowing every individual to live healthier lives, more specifically individuals who are employed. Employees would have higher standards of living thanks to universal health care. With healthier lives will maximize the work done by these individuals. In total benefitting their business or the business they work for. Secondly, a fact which all business owners would love to hear is that the amount spent on employee’s health insurance would be no more thanks to universal

The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 to make sure that most people had medical insurance. With this new healthcare system came the responsibility that individuals would have to take initiatives to try to stay or get healthy. The preventative care portion included in the Affordable Car Act is a big item and very important in health care reform and very positive for the American people. Wellness in the workplace has become a very important issue to help reduce companies medical cost, and to help employees get on track to know their numbers, get healthy, and have a positive healthy mental attitude. Many employees do not understand or know how to get healthy and live a healthy lifestyle. With the rising cost of healthcare relating to

The aim of this case based study, is to Promote Health and behaviour changes within the work place,

The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, with the intent of ensuring that most people in the United States have medical insurance. With this new healthcare system came the responsibility that individuals would have to take initiatives in an effort to stay healthy or at the least, increase their level of activity and health awareness, making them more responsible for their own wellness. The preventative care portion included in the Affordable Care Act is one of the fundamental items of the law and is a particularly meaningful, very positive attribute in health care reform for the American people. Wellness in the workplace has become an essential issue to help reduce companies’ medical cost, and to help employees get on track to know their numbers, get healthy, and have a positive healthy mental attitude. Many employees do not understand or know how to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. With the rising cost of healthcare, especially relating to people not taking care of their bodies, wellness in the workplace has become even more critical. Author Lori Breiner (2007) “believes wellness in the workplace has economic benefits for organizations, because if workers are healthy, they miss less time from work.” Breiner’s theory would suggest that better health increases productivity and profits in the workplace.

This article analyzes how workplace health promotion programs aids in prevention strategies. Berry and Mirabito share how critical it is to emphasize whole-person wellness rather than focusing solely on physical health. Including

General motors have a great wellness program that keeps their workforce healthy. They use a program called LifeSteps which helps employees identify controllable health risk.

Rising health care cost has challenged organizational leaders to develop new strategies and initiatives to reduce cost. New initiatives are important because the rising health care cost often interferes with an organization's ability to make a profit or stay in business (Littler, 2007). Possible initiatives for combating rising health care cost could be shifting all responsibility to employees or redesigning the benefit where both parties share the responsibility. Some organizational leaders have chosen the strategy of shifting costs to employees over redesigning their benefits system to combat rising health care cost (Larsen & Pomeranz, 2009). The redesigning of the system could include dropping health insurance coverage for employees (Blumenthal,

Optum. (2013). Optum research study: Reducing health risks with corporate wellness programs. White Paper. Retrieved from http://www.optum.co.uk/content/dam/optum/resources/whitePapers/091913-ORC-health-risk-reduction-study.pdf

Benavides noted that “wellness programs are not a quick fix solution to years of employee disregard for their health condition. In most cases at least a two year window is necessary to begin to see positive results. In any case, it is an option that provides a sustainable way to lower health care costs and improve the physical and mental well being of employees.” Under Obama’s Affordable Care Act, $15 billion over 10 years and another $2 billion each year to follow was allotted for healthcare and evidence-based outcomes (to generate and fund such wellness incentives as this paper proposes). Likewise, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allotted $160 billion total toward healthcare and wellness with $650 million specifically granted to address chronic disease strategies.

     Many times how well you do your job can depend on your physical health. If you begin to slack on health you can easily notice a difference on the quickness and efficiency in your work. You must exercise on a regular basis so you are able to perform the necessary tasks in the most stressful of situations. Not only must you be able to perform these tasks, but also you must be able to endure it for long periods of time. You must learn your weaknesses and your strengths so you are work at your best at all times. Staying in shape can also help your teammates, so you don’t put them in dangerous situations.

Health and wellness in the work place is a vital part to a company’s success. Employees who are healthier and more productive are less likely to call out from sickness. There are not many companies that have affordable health care coverage for employees. More companies should make healthcare affordable for their employees and their family. Research has been done on how effective health and wellness programs can be in the workplace. Throughout the reading these points will be discussed. The effectiveness of health and wellness in the workplace will also be spoken of. Health and wellness activities in the workplace will be a positive move for companies and employees.

Research indicates that employers can increase employee retention, increase employee productivity, and reduce employee healthcare costs by implementing a workplace wellness program.

Health and wellness in the workplace is crucial to business success. Increasingly, it is recognized that the workplace itself has a powerful affect on people’s health. When people are satisfied with their job, they are more productive and tend to be healthier. When employees feel that the environment at work is negative, they feel stressed. Stress has a large impact on employee mental and physical health, and in turn, on productivity. Companies that promote healthy lifestyle habits for employees to improve their health, often take the success of the company to heart and are likely to be absent less often for health related reasons.

Health is something that you can not buy so people needs to take care of it. Staying healthy should be a priority for everybody that want to live a long happy life without any sicknesses. Living a healthy lifestyle is not easy and requires a lot of work. These days people are working long hours and are extremely busy. They do not have time to eat properly and stay active. Employees spend about a quarter of their time at the office, in which they should consume at least two snacks and lunch. Since the beginning of the year, I am personally trying to live the healthy lifestyle so this topic is close to my heart. My employer offered to pay for my yoga classes which I am so grateful for. This has really changed my life, improved my health,