While workplace wellness programs have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of all employees, helping employees who are living with preventable chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, back pain, asthma, depression and high blood pressure can not only have a significant positive impact on the health of these employees, it can also lower costs for employers, reduce absenteeism and presenteeism, and increase productivity.
Chronic conditions are common and becoming more common, even among older millennial employees. One survey conducted by The Harris Poll for CNBC found that approximately 44% of the 33- to 40-year-olds surveyed reported having been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition. Looking at the broader population, six in 10 adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a chronic disease according to data gathered by the CDC.
