Investing in Employee Wellness May Bring Dividends—Literally

Investments in employee wellness programs appear to benefit the companies that make them beyond attracting quality employees; they may actually be linked to higher stock prices, according to data published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Three new peer-reviewed studies looked at the change in stock prices for three portfolios of employers who won awards for their employee wellness programs or who self-scored themselves as having a comprehensive program. In all three cases, those companies outperformed the S&P index between 7% and 16% per year. The data make for a persuasive argument that occupational medicine is good for a company’s economic health—and could be good for urgent care operators who provide such services. Michael P. O’Donnell, director of the Health Research Centre at the University of Michigan, wrote in an editorial that while there may be no cause-and-effect relationship assuring an uptick in stock prices, it is likely that the traits leading employers to prioritize wellness programs overlap with those necessary for success in their core business.