This Week's Herman Trend Alert Navigating the Next Year

The Herman Trend Alert April 11, 2007 The Future of Wellness For a while now, employers have recognized the value of supporting workers to stay healthy. In the United States, we call them "wellness programs". Not only do these valuable programs reduce absenteeism, but they also increase productivity and reduce employee turnover---both directly and indirectly. The financial impact of healthcare spending is indisputable. Starbucks spends more money in one year on health insurance for its employees than it spends on coffee for its customers. The US automakers will spend more money this year on health insurance than they will on the steel that goes into their automobiles. When you consider the costs of having workers who smoke, have chronic diseases, or are overweight, it is only logical that employers would look for ways to reduce those healthcare costs. Organizations can save $1100 for every employee who quits smoking and even more for every obese employee who gets rid of weight. We see more workplaces going smoke-free and encouraging their overweight employees to start exercising and eating better. Also, employees who are in the middle of a weight-loss or smoking-cessation program are much less likely to leave. Reducing employee turnover also decreases benefit costs, mostly because there is lower utilization of the healthcare system. When you bring on new people, they have often avoided visiting doctors, because they had no coverage. Once on your system, it's time to visit the doctors. This increased system usage produces higher insurance premiums. So what's ahead for wellness? Expect organizations to place more responsibility on the individual, rewarding employees for exercising, quitting smoking, and losing weight. On the other side, there will be penalties for folks who do not "get with the program". Expect overweight and smoking employees to pay more for their health insurance. Second, expect to see more wellness coaches providing one-on-one assistance to employee-in-need and helping to significantly reduce healthcare costs. Finally, we expect technology to play an increased role in encouraging people to get and stay healthy. Special thanks to Stacey Parker of WellCall, one of the largest consulting and coaching firms in this field, for many of these insights. © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." RESOLVE TO ADDRESS EMPLOYEE TURNOVER IN 2009 If you knew just how much money turnover is costing your company, you would have handled it ages ago! Turnover costs A LOT and it comes right off the bottom line. Let The Herman Group and its team of very experienced consultants help you address your turnover issues right away. We have an impressive track record and stand ready to help you. Call Carol at 800-227-3566; international, call 336-210-3547 for a no-obligation conference call. EMPLOYEE RETENTION BEGINS WITH GOOD SELECTION If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. To read this Herman Trend Alert on the web: http://www.hermangroup.com/alert/archive_9-24-2008.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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