After a lifetime of dance and exercise and 10 years working in corporate human resources, Jessica Covington decided to combine her skills and interests into a business. In July, she launched FIT-ology, a company that provides custom-designed wellness programs for corporations. It was good timing.
"With the drastic increases in health care premiums and costs, companies have had a growing interest in establishing wellness programs for the last several years," Covington said. "Companies have realized that getting their employees healthy and keeping them that way creates a more productive work force, with fewer unexplained absences, sick days, disabilities and workers' compensation claims."
As a whole, the nation is becoming heavier and more sedentary. Today, about 130 million Americans are overweight or obese, and the nation spends upward of $100 billion annually on medical expenses related to obesity, poor nutrition and physical inactivity, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Health and fitness affect corporations' bottom lines both directly and indirectly.
"Having a wellness plan tailored to meet employee needs also makes a company more competitive and attractive. It's a plus in recruiting junior-level people who are interested in work/life balance," Covington said.
She believes that a true wellness plan involves education, motivation and integration. It's not enough to give employees access to a gym or free health screenings; the goal is getting people to use them. Using past benefits claims, employee surveys and discussions with human resources management, Covington helps companies design safe, effective programs to fit their needs and work with their benefits packages.
"It could be something as simple as inspiring employees to start a walking routine where they encourage each other," she said.
Demand for her services is growing even faster than she expected. "Forward-thinking companies are searching for ways to help their employees, improve their bottom line and make them stand apart from the crowd," Covington said.