Herseth Sandlin, Boustany Call on American Employers to Promote Worksite Wellness

Press Release

HERSETH SANDLIN, BOUSTANY CALL ON AMERICAN EMPLOYERS TO PROMOTE WORKSITE WELLNESS

Bipartisan Legislation Designates National Workplace Wellness Week; Encourages Employers to Invest in the Health of Workforce

Today, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) and Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate the first full week of April as "National Workplace Wellness Week." The week will serve to encourage private and public employers across the country to invest in the health of their employees voluntarily by creating worksite employee health promotion programs and by sharing their experiences to help educate other employers.

"Focusing on prevention through workplace wellness programs not only makes employees healthier but also helps to lower healthcare costs and improve the overall competitiveness of our nation's businesses." Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "I'm pleased to introducing this resolution that encourages employers to voluntarily participate in worksite wellness programs and am optimistic that our colleagues and the President will be supportive of our efforts to keep our workforce healthy."

Rep. Boustany said, "Prevention must be one part of lowering the cost of healthcare in America, and our businesses and industries have a real stake in maintaining their competitiveness with runaway prices. I urge the President to join us in this bi-partisan effort to highlight the good work American companies are doing and to pool our ideas for others to model. This is an important first step towards lowering the cost of healthcare."

Employees benefit from health promotion in the workplace through lower out-of-pocket medical costs, a reduced risk of developing a chronic health condition, and increased satisfaction with their jobs and lives. At the same time, healthy employees incur fewer medical, workers' compensation and disability costs. Some programs have achieved rates of return ranging from $3 to $15 for each dollar invested. Employees who are healthy are also more productive because they are absent less often, and are able to focus and perform better at work.

Despite these significant potential benefits, however, a 2004 survey found that only about seven percent of employers offer these programs to their employees. The legislation introduced by Herseth Sandlin and Boustany aims to close this gap, improve the health and quality of life of Americans, and reduce health care costs that are damaging the country's economy.

The move to designate a National Workplace Wellness Week has received support from leading advocates for improving healthcare as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"This resolution affirms that employer wellness programs are essential to promoting preventive care," said U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President for Government Affairs R. Bruce Josten. "The Chamber thanks Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin and Congressman Boustany for their leadership on this issue and looks forward to working with Congress to ensure swift passage of the resolution and advance the goal of promoting preventive health care in the American workplace."

"One of the most encouraging trends in prevention over the past several years has been the growing number of corporations and state governments that support healthy lifestyles through worksite-based wellness programs. More and more, employers, like those involved in Partnership for Prevention's Leading by Example initiative, are not just speaking out on the high cost of health care, but also becoming persuasive voices and compelling models of ways to promote health and wellness, an essential component of true health reform," said Partnership for Prevention President John M. Clymer. "We applaud the resolution introduced by Representative Herseth Sandlin and Representative Boustany that supports employee wellness programs and transforming the health system from one that mainly treats people after they become ill into one that emphasizes keeping people healthy."

"The "National Workplace Wellness Week" resolution is a significant first step towards the establishment of an ideal work environment that promotes healthy habits," said Craig Thorne, M.D., MPH, national spokesperson for the American Heart Association Start! initiative. "With more than a third of working-age Americans suffering from chronic illnesses including heart disease and stroke, businesses should realize that a healthy and productive workforce will ultimately have a positive impact on their bottom line."

Start! is the American Heart Association's groundbreaking national movement that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. Start! offers free physical activity, nutrition and other health information integrated within a single online resource. It also offers resources for employers to implement a walking program in the workplace and track employees' progress in the program.

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