Research Indicates that Wellness Programs May be an Option for Small Businesses

“Implementation of a Worksite Wellness Program Targeting Small Businesses: The Pinnacol Assurance Health Risk Management Study,” published in the January 2105 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, concluded that small companies were a suitable target for the introduction of health promotion programs.  This study, funded by Pinnacol Assurance, a Colorado based provider of workers’ compensation insurance, suggests that companies of all sizes may be turning to workplace wellness programs to control costs of both health insurance and workers’ compensation.  The article’s author indicated that wellness programs should be tailored to the needs of specific companies.  Variables to consider include the nature of the employees’ work tasks, the location of the facility, and whether employees are full time, part time, or work on shifts.  For more information on this article, contact govtaffairs@sgia.org.