Studies have highlighted the gains in productivity

• lower rates of absenteeism

• reduction of “presenteeism” (when employees are “at work” but have diminished productivity because of illness or stress)

And other significant benefits to companies with wellness programs

• higher rates of employee engagement

• higher levels of retention

• recruitment leverage

While the payoffs of higher productivity, retention, and winning the competition for talent are big returns on investment, we want to take a moment to focus on what Human Resource Executive Magazine calls the “500 pound gorilla”: health care costs.