Most companies stick with wellness programs

Employers have spent plenty in recent years to keep employees healthy, hoping that will keep them on the job and less likely to use healthcare insurance. That can lead to lower healthcare costs which were estimated in one national survey to average more than $7,000 per employee per year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The return on investment in wellness is hard to measure, but companies say the programs can work. A study by insurer MetLife found 94% of companies with wellness programs said they reduced medical costs.