U.S. Chamber Highlights Benefits of Workplace Wellness Programs

Launches Alliance & Applauds the 'Healthy Workforce Act'

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Partnership for Prevention, and the American Heart Association today formally launched the U.S. Workplace Wellness Alliance, a broad-based coalition of businesses, health care advocates, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health of America's employees.

"As Congress works to address the many difficult issues surrounding health care reform, it is important that we recognize employer initiatives that can be accomplished now," said Randel Johnson, the U.S. Chamber's vice president of Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits. "One of these areas is clearly health promotion and wellness. Research demonstrates that healthy employees have fewer medical claims, fewer absences, fewer disabilities, and greater on-the-job productivity than employees who lead less healthy lifestyles."

Today's event on Capitol Hill also featured Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) who reintroduced the Healthy Workforce Act, legislation that would provide tax incentives to employers for the implementation of workplace wellness programs. According to the American Heart Association, worksite wellness programs are an important means of addressing the nation's rising obesity rates, increasing prevalence of chronic disease and escalating health care costs.

The event also kicked off the beginning of National Workplace Wellness Week, which officially starts on April 5. The Alliance is asking its members to use the week to showcase how workplace wellness programs have succeeded in producing healthier and more productive employees, and reducing employer health care costs.

"Two years ago, the Chamber teamed up with the Partnership for Prevention to publish Leading By Example, which reviewed the wellness initiatives of major companies in America in order to provide guidance to small and medium-size businesses," continued Johnson. "Today, we are taking another step by announcing this new Alliance and throwing our support behind the goals of the Healthy Workforce Act."

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

# # #