Once a wellness program is initiated, how long is it until health improvements are seen in employees?
Programs that are similar in design to those of the reviewed studies or have the components mentioned above have shown positive health behavior changes is as little as 6 months. In terms of measurable results, a decrease in the absenteeism is first usually observed. For companies with means of measuring productivity, increases can begin to show up in the 6 months to 12-month time frame. Reductions in health plan premium increases may not occur until 2 or three years after initiation when health care claims have shown to a significant decline. To achieve these long term results requires that the programming be sustained, because studies have shown that if the program is stopped or the employees stop participating they will begin to revert to old, negative wellness behaviors.
