Have You Considered Digital Employee Wellness Solutions?

We often take good health for granted throughout our lives, but statistics show long-term disease is prevalent in Canada.¹ 2 in 5 Canadians (44% of men and 43% of women) are expected to develop cancer during their lifetime. More than 158,000 Canadians over 20 receive a new diagnosis of heart disease.²

The odds are that a life-changing illness will directly affect your employees. Based on statistics, it is critical to proactively take every step possible to maintain a healthier lifestyle with positive impacts on long-term disease. Ensuring your benefits plan encourages proactive, preventative, and healthful habits is more important now than ever.

Is your plan doing enough to help prevent long-term disease?

Employers are increasingly focusing on long-term disease prevention to attract and retain talent, in addition to a benefits program with financial support and assistance for illness costs.

Consider the following questions:

• Does your benefits plan promote preventative care?
• Does it include wellness support?
• Do your employees know how to access the wellness support you offer?
• Do they have the resources to make the most of your plan?
• How does your plan encourage a healthy lifestyle?

Employers and plan sponsors have begun including digital technology, such as gamified wellness apps, in their benefits plans to reach their employees and offer proactive wellness solutions. According to a recent poll conducted by CIBC, the average Canadian picks up their smartphone every ten minutes. Regardless of generation, it’s likely that your employees have a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device. Implementing an engaging digital employee wellness solution, like an app, allows you to promote healthy living to your employees throughout the day.

Advantages of digital employee wellness tools

Often, the cost of implementing a digital wellness solution discourages employers. What employers should consider, however, is that the cost of not implementing a proactive wellness solution may be even higher.

When employees are living an unhealthy lifestyle, their use of your benefits plan can increase by:

• Increased use of paramedical coverage for joint stress due to excess weight
• A greater potential for heart disease or stroke
• Higher incidence of disability claims and employee absenteeism
• Increased use of prescription drugs
• Rate increases in your benefits plan due to higher claim costs

Additionally, employees with unhealthy habits may experience a loss in productivity and motivation.

Employers can help their employees experience promising and long-lasting results with a proactive wellness plan. Employees with previously unhealthy habits may begin to participate in friendly competition with coworkers by engaging with a digital wellness tool. Healthy habits may include stretching, walking, and eating healthier, which can significantly affect long-term health. Many digital wellness tools also provide tracking functionality, allowing employees to follow their progress and increase motivation. This may often mean employees experience fewer health issues, resulting in lower rates and long-term disability claims. Industry data shows that the cost of augmenting your benefits program with a proactive wellness plan has the potential for a positive return on investment while improving your employees’ lives.³

Encouraging uptake of digital wellness tools

If you already have a proactive wellness tool in your plan, is it used effectively? Do your employees know about it, and are they encouraged to use it? Ongoing education is critical to maximizing the number of employees using a new tool. Ensure regular, sustained communication with your employees to promote participation in any wellness objective.

As an employer, you understand the value of an organized, proactive strategy. With employees’ wellness and healthy living expertise, our Cowan experts are ready to help you design the right wellness solution for your benefits plan.

Sources

1. Canadian Cancer Society. (2023). Cancer statistics at a glance. Retrieved from URL. ↵
2. Government of Canada. (July 18, 2017). Heart disease in Canada: Highlights from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System. Retrieved from URL. ↵
3. Sprout At Work. (June 3, 2019). ROI vs VOI: Evaluating Workplace Wellness Programs. Retrieved from URL. ↵