Health care, as an employee benefit, is one of the fastest rising
and most seemingly uncontrollable costs facing employers today. In 2005, health care
spending rose nearly 7%, twice the rate of inflation in this country. Employers must look
for creative ways to address this problem before it spirals out of control, impacting other
areas of business spending. In any industry the health of the workforce is critical to the
company's bottom line, as well as the quality of service provided to customers. Dealing
proactively with health issues through wellness initiatives that promote healthy lifestyle
choices is a positive approach to reducing absenteeism, work-related injuries and
health-related productivity issues. It is an area with great promise for helping employers
regain more control over their health-care costs.
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