Fit to Work Program by Core Essentials

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The Proof for Fit to Work

The Business Case for a 'Fit To Work' Program
presented by Core Essentials
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Brief: Research over the past 10 years shows that businesses that invest in well planned work-place wellness programs see a positive return not only in immediate bottom line costs but also in employee engagement which positively affects the culture, and ultimately the profits, of any business large or small.

Statistic Statistic

“Wellness programs, in general, and fitness programs in particular may be the only employee benefits which pay money back. When more people come to work, you don't need to pay overtime or for temporary help; when people stay at the job longer, training costs go down.”
University of Michigan

“Canada Life in Toronto showed a return on investment of $3.40 on each corporate dollar invested on reduced turnover, productivity gains and decreased medical claims.”
Public Health Agency of Canada

According to a study by the Public Health Agency of Canada, The Business Case for Active Living at Work, physical activity supportive workplaces can...

  • Improve employees' health & fitness
  • Improve productivity & morale
  • Improve job satisfaction & team spirit
  • Reduce absenteeism & turnover
  • Reduce stress & back injuries
  • Reduce workplace injuries
  • Reduce workers' compensation costs
  • Reduce claims against benefit plans

In the Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, Health Canada reports that the total direct cost of illness in 1993 was $44 billion out of an overall cost for health care in Canada of $70 billion. Moreover, the indirect costs such as time lost due to long-term and short-term disabilities, and the present value of future productivity lost due to premature mortality and illness in Canada represents an estimated economic value of $129 billion (nearly 21% of the GDP). Reducing the number of inactive Canadians by a further 10% would result in an additional saving of $5 billion.

“General Electric found that employees who exercised were absent from work 45% fewer days than those who didn't.”
Business & Health

“BC Hydro employees enrolled in a work-sponsored fitness program had a turnover rate of 3.5% compared with the company average of 10.3%.”
Public Health Agency of Canada

A Health Canada report, Improving the Health of Canadians, found all of the following diseases to be linked to some degree to physical inactivity. Increasing physical activity often helps to reverse these conditions:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Osteoporosis
  • Arthritis
  • Obesity
  • Mental illness

“General Mills found that participants in its employee fitness program had a 19% reduction in absenteeism compared to a 69% increase in non-participants.”
American Journal of Health Promotion

“The Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey showed that workers who exercise miss 40% fewer workdays than those who don't.”
American Demographics

“Toronto Life Assurance found that employee turnover for those enrolled in the company's fitness program was 1.5% versus the 15% for non-participants.”
Public Health Agency of Canada

The Conference Board of Canada estimates that a 1% increase in physical activity could save $10.2 million for heart disease, $877,000 for adult-onset diabetes, and $407,000 for colon cancer each year (in constant 1993 dollars).

“Northern Telecom employees average 2 fewer absences a year and one fewer physician visits, and their average hospital bill dropped by $297 – all as a result of their corporate fitness program.”
Health People Health Companies

Icon  3 Case Studies

The following statistics are the results of employee wellness program initiatives.

Vancouver Airport Authority

Total absenteeism dropped from 4.07% in 1999 to 2.56% in 2002
Workers Compensation Board injuries dropped from 22 in 1999 to 6 in 2002
WCB 'days lost' dropped from 22 in 1999 to 24 in 2002

BC Hydro

$1.2 million in reduced sick leave costs annually
$97,000 in reduced accident costs/year
$35,000 in WCB rate reduction
Productivity gains of $919,000
Employee retention and corporate image gains
BC Hydro estimates that there is a total of $2.74 benefit for every $1 spent

MDS Nordion, Ontario

Annual grievances have been reduced significantly from 50 to 5 since the early 1990's
Absenteeism have been reduced from 6 days in 1993 to an average of 4 days in 1999
The number of lost time injuries per 100 person years has dropped from 2.5 in 1993 to 0.5 in 1999
Turnover at MDS Nordion is an average of 6% compared to 10% in the high tech industry
Management knows the programs have boosted both productivity and morale

Here's something to think about: According to the Public Health Agency of Canada's report, The Business Case for Active Living at Work, as much as one half of the decline in physical function between the ages of 30 and 70 can be attributed not to aging itself, but rather to a sedentary lifestyle.

The “Fit to Work” seminar series was developed to help employers promote fitness within the workplace by bringing a new reality to the table: being healthy enough to work is our personal responsibility.

Unfortunately, many employees maintain an entitlement mentality that does not serve them and does little for the morale within the workplace.

So how do we change a culture within a group that seems reluctant to change? Have them take it home!

We show that an improvement in an individual's physical health not only benefits them at work, but also has a dramatic and positive impact in their personal life as well.

The Fit to Work seminar series covers:

Each participant will receive a workbook with a summary of all the valuable information listed above and a new understanding of the responsibility each of us has for our physical health. This is definitely one seminar your staff won't soon forget!

Core Essentials also offers back clinics, injury rehabilitation, and stress management seminars. Programs can be tailored to meet your company's particular needs.


Dynamic Back Schools

As an additional offering for the Fit to Work program we offer "Dynamic Back Schools" which provides an in-house educational series on back safety and lifting technique taught by professional lifters and medical exercise specialists.

Injury rehabilitation / prevention and work conditioning programs also provided on request. Core Essentials clients include:


Contact us by instant email enquiry or phone for more information.

For more information on why being "Fit to Work" is so important, please see "The Proof for Fit to Work" sidebar to your left. For further details, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada website.