Financial impact of a comprehensive multisite workplace health promotion program

Introduction. The purpose of this study is to determine if the Washoe County School District Wellness Program impacted employee health care costs and rates of absenteeism over a 2-year period. Methods. Outcome variables included health care costs and absenteeism during 2001–2002. Data were collected on 6246 employees over a 6-year period from 1997–2002. Baseline health claims costs and absenteeism from 1997–2000, age, gender, job classification, and years worked at the school district were treated as covariates. Logistic regression was used to compare 2-year costs and absenteeism rates between nonparticipants and employees who participated for 1 and 2 years. Results. No significant differences in health care costs were found between those who participated in any of the wellness programs and those who did not participate. There was a significant negative association between participation and absenteeism; program participants averaged three fewer missed workdays than those who did not participate in any wellness programs. The decrease in absenteeism translated into a cost savings of US$15.60 for every dollar spent on the program. Conclusions. After controlling for several confounding variables, wellness program participation was associated with large reductions in employee absenteeism.