Are your employees costing you more than they should?

I know, I know – isn’t it enough that you pay salary, offer vacation, health insurance and other benefits? You’d like to think so, but a growing body of research proves that employers who do nothing to support the wellness of their employees end up paying more than they expect. Savvy companies that promote the health and well-being of their employees are financially rewarded with fewer workers comp and medical claims, reduced absenteeism and turnover, and increased productivity and morale.

While in a perfect world we would all take personal responsibility and care for our health and fitness, the problem is more complex than simply telling someone to “shape up, exercise, and eat right.” Many people know they need to exercise, eat more fruits and vegetable, and limit their fat intake, just to name a few of the recommendations from doctors and other health care professionals.

The problem is in the implementation of the information – how to make changes that fit in with one’s lifestyle. Too much information is also a problem: most people have so much conflicting information that they are confused and give up. Diet and exercise companies competing for a piece of this billion dollar industry announce the latest “rules” about what to do or not to do. They make it sound easy, sexy even, but research shows most people are left disappointed. Maybe that is why next to testimonials for almost every product or program on the market are the words “Results not typical.” I’m not kidding. Watch the commercials, go to their websites, and you will see those three words far more often than not.

If you were to ask your employees, most would agree that they want to look good and feel great. However, they have developed a lifestyle that works against them. They literally do not know how to move from where they are – unfit and unhealthy – to a lifestyle of health, vitality, and energy. They think they do (“I’ll start my diet/program/going to the gym Monday”), but look at the long-term success rate of diets: a dismal 2-5%. And, thousands of people join gyms every month with memberships going unused once the initial excitement wears off.

It’s no a surprise: donuts and candy jars adorn most break rooms and office desks. Busy workers often skip lunch, setting themselves up for a late-night binge. Modern “conveniences” are rolled out every year to make our lives easier, but more sedentary. We’re “saving” all this time, yet we’re busy and more tired than ever. And it’s not from exercise! People are stressed, their schedules are over-filled, they are caring for kids and sometimes aging parents, their spouses have similar obstacles… something needs to shift to affect change.

While the motivation may be different, employees and employers want the same thing: happy and healthy employees. That’s the good news. But, how can you overcome the obstacles – the inertia, busyness, and everything else – that keeps your employees in the cycle of over-eating, under-exercising, and declining energy?

That’s where YPP Fit can help. In conjunction with PeopleFit USA, the YPP Fit program offers a cost-effective way for your employees to get and stay fit, breaking the cycle of unhealthy habits. We provide the missing link to getting employees from where they are now to greater levels of health and fitness.

The YPP Fit program teaches them how to develop an active and healthy lifestyle for good. It is a program that supports them in fitting healthy habits into their life in a way that works for them – helps them tailor it to their schedule, goals, current fitness level, likes & dislikes – rather than a one-size-fits-all, all-or-nothing approach.

Back to the initial question: Are your employees costing you more than they should? If you would like to explore how your company can benefit from a wellness program, contact YPP to coordinate a complimentary needs analysis and to see if YPP Fit is the right fit for your business.

To your health,