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At the 2016 SIIA Workers’ Compensation Executive Forum held in May, a panel of health services experts discussed how strong workplace wellness programs can improve workers’ compensation programs. A recent article from Safety National claims that a “healthier workforce can not only reduce injuries but also reduce duration of disability and severity of injuries.”

Safety National states that often workplace wellness programs and workers’ compensation programs do not communicate and warns of the complications that can arise from this disconnect. For instance, an employee might take a prescription covered by her employer-provided health plan which could react negatively with a prescription received through a workers’ compensation claim.

The University of California is an example of an organization that has taken significant steps to link these workplace wellness and workers’ compensation, resulting in measurable success. In 2011, they developed the WorkStrong Program, an initiative specifically aimed at improving employee health and preventing workers' compensation injuries. Each employee who’s eligible works with a professional trainer, as well as other experts in safety, medicine, and nutrition.

Through this program, The University of California has seen 39% savings in workers’ compensation claims through “decreases in disability times, less repeat injuries, and better recoveries from subsequent injuries.” The University also reports that 68% of the employees that have completed the program are continuing to exercise on their own, while many are also incorporating the nutritional advice into their diets at home.

As we saw in our previous article, the total cost of work-related injuries and absenteeism has escalated to a whopping 12% of the GDP in the U.S.—an estimated $2.2 trillion dollars. When workplace wellness and workers’ compensation work together, employers can help reduce these costs and ensure their workers stay healthy and safe.