At World Economic Forum, Corporations Ally to Improve Workplace Wellness – Michael B. McCallister

Michael B. McCallister is guest blogging for the Forum. He is the Chairman and CEO of Humana and Chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Workplace Wellness Alliance. He will be attending the Annual Meeting in Davos.

The World Economic Forum (Forum) meeting this week in Davos, Switzerland, will explore ways to improve our citizenry’s health.  As it has with health the Forum strives to enrich wellness through advocacy, dialogue and partnership.

Increasingly, Forum participants also are focusing on workplace wellbeing. Chief executives of several major corporations, including Humana, have organized the World Economic Forum’s Workplace Wellness Alliance to better understand the link between employee wellness, engagement and productivity. The Alliance goes into full swing this year. 

Study after study makes it clear that healthy work environments help a business’s productivity and bottom line.  Workplace wellness programs that address lifestyle changes and promote health clearly demonstrate clear returns on investment – with cost savings of up to $4 (U.S.) for every $1 invested.   

Still, in any given year, one-third of the world’s workforce suffers from preventable diseases  and sparks an annual economic loss from lost workdays and lower employee productivity estimated at $2 trillion.  

Collaborative action among corporations can make inroads against chronic diseases – and that’s encouraging since half of those who die each year from chronic disease are in their productive years.   Such teamwork proves especially valuable when common targets and metrics are selected to combat chronic-disease risk factors.

These efforts have recently garnered the attention of the United Nations. At the UN’s first-ever summit on non-communicable diseases in September 2011, the Alliance will have an opportunity to acquaint the larger world community with the efforts we’re making in the private sector to improve the workplace through better employee health and well-being.

 As more corporations join the World Economic Forum’s Workplace Wellness Alliance, it can tackle tough and complex workplace health challenges – and deliver a sustaining ROI of its own as it improves the wellbeing of the world’s workforce.