Small businesses explore the (cost) benefits of Fitness

From the New York Times, a group of small business owners in an economically-depressed area of Michigan are finding that it pays to invest in their the employee's health via fitness and wellness programs and benefits. Interesting, because this informal consortium of small business owners find it worth their time to get together personally and brainstorm ways to help their employees.

Interesting also - the article notes that several states (Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island) have recently required health insurance companies to offer wellness benefits to small business employees.

In a competitive job climate, with nimble small and medium-sized businesses looking to keep their employees healthy, committed, and happy, providing health and wellness benefits on top of "insurance" is the way to go. Personally, I make sure I schedule myself so that I get a good workout in - I am so much more productive and happier that way.

Interesting Article on CNN.com about the financial returns on investing in "wellness" in the workplace

This story caught my eye today, a happy line amongst the otherwise discouraging news that seems to frequent CNN.com. A 565-employee blue-collar plant in Lincoln, Nebraska has invested in a wellness program (for the past 16 years!) with 3 full-time employees dedicated to worker-wellness, offers on-site massages and pre-shift stretching to employees, as well as regular body fat tests, and a rewards programs for employees that meet certain health-standards, etc. Most noteworthy of all, the company saves about $2 million a year in health-care costs, despite investing $4000 in each employee.

Wow. That is pretty amazing. And it's at a factory in Lincoln, Nebraska. Seems like an unlikely setting for such progressive thinking. Imagine what we could do here in Austin!!