Cambridge Chamber to examine wellness initiatives

Over the last few years, business of all sizes have been feeling the pressure of increasing health care costs. Since 1999, employer’s health care costs rose 120%, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation’s Employee Health Benefits: 2008 Annual Survey. US health care costs continue to grow at a faster rate than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and are expected to outpace overall inflation and wage growth over the next 10 years.
According to federal forecasters, by 2017 one in every five US dollars will be spent on health care, for total annual health care spending of more than $4.3 trillion. (Keehan, S. et al. “Health Spending Projections Through 2017,” Health Affairs Web Exclusive, February 2008.) While employee’s contribution to health care costs have risen by $1,600 since 1999, employers still bear the burden of the majority of the escalating costs.
A growing trend across America, programs focusing on worker health and safety have become influential on overall company productivity, equity and stability. Businesses are beginning to address the importance of “human capital assets” by recognizing the workplace as an effective venue through which to influence workers and support beneficial employee lifestyle choices. Implementing a workplace wellness program makes good business sense.
Recognizing the need to expand awareness around this topic, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce has put together a working group to examine whether this type of initiative would be useful to the community and if needs are being met by existing programs.
“This group has spent the last several months looking at successful models, program ideas and actually talking to businesses to find out what is needed,” said working group member Mari Ryan, CEO of Advancing Wellness. “We look at this as an opportunity to provide resources typically not offered by a chamber of commerce. We are not looking to recreate the wheel—there are already some terrific examples being used by businesses. In fact, partnering opportunities may even come from this initiative.”
The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce is undertaking an effort to understand the types of programs currently being offered in Cambridge businesses and to determine the unmet needs of Cambridge businesses. During the next few weeks, the CCC will undertake a research effort to gather information on this topic.
An online survey will be sent to approximately 1,000 Cambridge-area businesses. The information will be analyzed and a report to the business community will be presented. We encourage your participation in the survey and look forward to sharing this information with the Cambridge business community.


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