Statistics Canada reports that an estimated $12 billion is lost to workplace absenteeism each year. Stress, smoking, the inability to balance work and family, and feelings of loss of control over workplace schedules and environments are some of the major health issues facing today’s workforce. Two-thirds of Canadians over age 15 are employees and, on average, they spend about 60% of their waking hours at work. Therefore, the social and physical workplace environment can have a significant impact on health.

Research shows that most employees believe the workplace is an appropriate and effective place to promote health and well-being issues. Additionally, the workplace can be seen as an effective setting for increasing active living because of the potential policy and environmental impact, increased social support, use of mass media and the use of individually based interventions.

Organizations that value their employees are more likely to have employees that value themselves. The health of employees, in turn, influences productivity, and ultimately, an organization’s bottom line. Evidence suggests a return on health and wellness investment for Canadian businesses:

• Canada Life study in the 1970s found a return of $1.95 to $3.75 per employee per dollar spent on corporate wellness programs;
• Municipal employees in Toronto missed 3.5 fewer days in the first six months of the “Metro Fit” program;
• BC Hydro employees enrolled in the fitness program had a turnover rate of 3.5 per cent compared to a company average of 10.3 per cent; and
• Canadian Life Assurance Company found that the turnover rate for fitness program participants was 32.4 per cent lower than average over seven years.