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For
Immediate Release Contact: Betsy Hart
July 31, 2008 (202) 226-8555
HERSETH SANDLIN, BOUSTANY CALL ON AMERICAN EMPLOYERS TO PROMOTE WORKSITE
WELLNESS
Bipartisan Legislation Designates National Workplace Wellness Week;
Encourages Employers to Invest in the Health of Workforce
Washington,
DC, July 31, 2008-Today,
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) and Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)
introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate the first full week
of April as “National Workplace Wellness Week.” The week will serve
to encourage private and public employers across the country to invest
in the health of their employees voluntarily by creating worksite employee
health promotion programs and by sharing their experiences to help educate
other employers.
“Focusing on prevention through workplace wellness programs not only
makes employees healthier but also helps to lower healthcare costs and
improve the overall competitiveness of our nation’s businesses.” Rep.
Herseth Sandlin said. “I’m pleased to introducing this resolution that
encourages employers to voluntarily participate in worksite wellness
programs and am optimistic that our colleagues and the President will
be supportive of our efforts to keep our workforce healthy.”
Rep. Boustany said, “Prevention must be one part of lowering the cost
of healthcare in America, and our businesses and industries have a real
stake in maintaining their competitiveness with runaway prices. I urge
the President to join us in this bi-partisan effort to highlight the
good work American companies are doing and to pool our ideas for others
to model. This is an important first step towards lowering the cost
of healthcare.”
Employees benefit from health promotion in the workplace through lower
out-of-pocket medical costs, a reduced risk of developing a chronic
health condition, and increased satisfaction with their jobs and lives.
At the same time, healthy employees incur fewer medical, workers’ compensation
and disability costs. Some programs have achieved rates of return ranging
from $3 to $15 for each dollar invested. Employees who are healthy are
also more productive because they are absent less often, and are able
to focus and perform better at work.
Despite these significant potential benefits, however, a 2004 survey
found that only about seven percent of employers offer these programs
to their employees. The legislation introduced by Herseth Sandlin and
Boustany aims to close this gap, improve the health and quality of life
of Americans, and reduce health care costs that are damaging the country’s
economy.
The move to designate a National Workplace Wellness Week has received
support from leading advocates for improving healthcare as well as the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“This resolution affirms that employer wellness programs are essential
to promoting preventive care,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive
Vice President for Government Affairs R. Bruce Josten. “The Chamber
thanks Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin and Congressman Boustany for their
leadership on this issue and looks forward to working with Congress
to ensure swift passage of the resolution and advance the goal of promoting
preventive health care in the American workplace.”
“One of the most encouraging trends in prevention over the past several
years has been the growing number of corporations and state governments
that support healthy lifestyles through worksite-based wellness programs.
More and more, employers, like those involved in Partnership for Prevention’s
Leading by Example initiative, are not just speaking out on the high
cost of health care, but also becoming persuasive voices and compelling
models of ways to promote health and wellness, an essential component
of true health reform,” said Partnership for Prevention President John
M. Clymer. “We applaud the resolution introduced by Representative Herseth
Sandlin and Representative Boustany that supports employee wellness
programs and transforming the health system from one that mainly treats
people after they become ill into one that emphasizes keeping people
healthy.”
“The “National Workplace Wellness Week” resolution is a significant
first step towards the establishment of an ideal work environment that
promotes healthy habits,” said Craig Thorne, M.D., MPH, national spokesperson
for the American Heart Association Start! initiative. “With more than
a third of working-age Americans suffering from chronic illnesses including
heart disease and stroke, businesses should realize that a healthy and
productive workforce will ultimately have a positive impact on their
bottom line.”
Start! is the American Heart Association’s groundbreaking national movement
that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture
of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives
through walking. Start! offers free physical activity, nutrition and
other health information integrated within a single online resource.
It also offers resources for employers to implement a walking program
in the workplace and track employees’ progress in the program.
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Congresswoman
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats
committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is
co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the
profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three
committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’
Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin
was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee
on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
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