Happy Halloween! Today, you’re probably preoccupied with eerie events, wicked wassails, spooky surprises, and tricks and treats. Tomorrow, however, is a day to focus on wellness. Autumn is a time of change, the start of a new school year, and the end of lazy summer days. It’s the season in which many people renew their focus on improving health and wellness habits. Not coincidentally, fall also ushers in the open enrollment period and the time when most companies host their wellness fairs. Every business wants to make sure that employees are aware of their health insurance options and how to get the most out of their benefits. Incorporating a preventative dentistry solution is one big way to bring new incentives to the workforce that increase productivity, morale, employment brand, and cost savings. Dentists on Demand can help. Even better, our portable service comes right to you.
Wellness Programs in the Workforce
The first wellness programs debuted in the 1950s. They weren’t widespread among corporations, and they didn’t have the appeal we see today in media concentrating on human resources, benefits, and workplace innovation. Over the past few years, however, a stronger synergy between employee wellness and employee benefits has formed and grown. And corporate mobile dentistry can enrich your programs while increasing moral, productivity, and profits.
Studies of workplace wellness activities often indicate that corporate wellness programs were initially designed to benefit companies more than employees. While the availability of specific health-related resources may have increased worker safety and productivity, programs were fundamentally focused on managing costs and mitigating risks.
Although cost containment remains an important aspect of employee wellness programs, the primary driver behind today’s programs has spread to encompass the realization that improving the health of the workforce improves the bottom line to an even greater extent.
Workplace wellness initiatives, according to current data, do produce positive material gains in company performance and profits – simply by cultivating a happier and healthier workforce. One study found that all employees who participated in corporate wellness programs experienced an improvement in productivity by an average of one full workday per month. That’s a significant impact on the bottom line. Healthier and happier employees also experience more job satisfaction. In turn, this helps to reduce their workplace stress, which is a leading factor in resignations or abrupt departures.
The reality for businesses today is that happiness has a price tag. Research by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) suggests that unplanned employee exits are pretty expensive. Replacement costs can be as high as 50% to 60%, with overall costs ranging anywhere from 90% to 200%. For example, if an employee makes $60,000 per year, it could cost a company an average of $30,000 to $45,000 to replace that individual. This translates roughly to between $54,000 and $120,000 in overall losses to the company.
Wellness programs, on the other hand, have demonstrated their ability to curb those losses by retaining employees, bolstering their morale and dedication to the organization, and fueling increases in performance and productivity.
Advantages of Wellness Programs
- Improved employee morale and productivity
- Reduced absenteeism and related costs
- Increased employee engagement and loyalty
- Enhanced company reputation
- Lower health care and insurance costs
- Fewer workplace injuries, workers’ compensation claims, and disability claims
- Better employee morale
- Easier to recruit and keep employees
To expand on these boons, let’s explore the example of absenteeism. According to a 2022 report by SHRM, the average cost of an employee absence in the United States is $2,668. This includes the cost of lost productivity, overtime pay for other employees, and the expense of finding and hiring replacements.
Some Statistics in Support of Wellness Programs
- 52% of U.S. companies offer wellness programs.
- 72% of employers saw a reduction in healthcare costs after implementing a wellness program.
- The average return on investment (ROI) for employee wellness programs is six-to-one.
- Wellness programs can reduce absenteeism by 14% to 19%.
- 87% of employees consider health and wellness offerings when choosing an employer.
More Companies Need to Integrate Dental Care into Wellness Programs
About 65% of working adults put off essential visits to the dentist because of busy schedules and hectic commutes. That means the majority of any business’ workforce is not utilizing a crucial benefit for which the organization is already paying. It also means they’re at high risk of potential dental emergencies that will lead to unplanned time off. But phobia, inconvenience, long commutes, and hectic schedules don’t tell the whole story.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 44% of civilian workers—private industry workers and state and local government workers combined—have access to dental care plans. As far as wellness programs go, most estimates indicate that the percentage of businesses which include dental in their wellness fairs is relatively low, perhaps in the range of 10% to 20%. For example, a 2019 survey by the National Association of Dental Plans found that only 22% of employers offer dental insurance as part of their wellness programs, up from 15% in 2017.
This is likely due to a number of factors, including the cost of providing dental services, the lack of awareness of the benefits of dental care, and the belief that dental care is not a necessary part of a wellness program.
If you examine the wellness efforts most common among businesses, these are the predominant offerings:
- Health risk assessments and screenings
- Vaccination clinics
- Weight loss and nutrition programs
- Exercise programs and fitness centers
- Stress reduction resources
- Smoking cessation programs
Yet all research suggests that dental care is an important part of overall health and well-being. For example, studies have shown that people with poor oral health are more likely to experience chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. As a result, some businesses are beginning to recognize the importance of including dental care in their wellness programs. But more companies will reap greater rewards by incorporating oral health care into their wellness solutions.
Employers are looking at “whole person health” today, which should include wellness programs and education around dental health benefits. Take the time to educate them on the benefits of oral health programs and how they contribute to a healthy lifestyle, and how their cost of benefits interact.
Invite Dentists on Demand to Your Next Wellness Fair
Our specialized mobile dental pop-up services are designed exclusively for corporate clients, using the latest advances in portable dental technology, the strictest adherence to hygiene and safety, and an expert team of seasoned practitioners. Our team of skilled dental professionals brings top-notch oral health services right to your doorstep. But before you make that decision, allow us to participate in your next wellness fair. We can interact with you and your staff, gather information about whether the service is a good fit for the organization and the needs of your employees, and educate your workforce on the benefits of excellent oral health.
How We Can Participate
We can set-up a booth, give away swag, and collect survey data from employees who may be interested in signing up for a pop-up on a future date. We will share the survey results with you to help strategize on the best way to orchestrate a formal pop up.
Or, we can schedule a pop-up the day of their wellness fair! Onboarding is simple and seamless!
- We will work with your HR teams to discuss logistics and gather all the information our team requires for a successful dental pop-up.
- We provide an online booking link for your team, with all the informational materials you need to get the word out about our services!
- We handle scheduling, medical forms, communications, and insurance verification.
Why Choose Dentists on Demand?
- Increased productivity: By providing dental care on site, employees receive necessary treatments without disrupting their workday. Your team members receive care they may otherwise forgo due to time constraints, long commutes, or other priorities.
- Improved morale: This additional benefit demonstrates your commitment to help care for your employees’ health and well-being. Morale increases while turnover rates decline.
- Competitive advantage: Your employment brand is one of the most important marketing tools when hiring. An onsite dental offering helps you stand out and shine among competitors when looking to attract and retain top talent.
- Cost savings: By providing preventive dental care, companies are better positioned to avoid more serious – and expensive – dental issues from developing across their workforce.
- Safety First: We adhere to the latest and strictest safety protocols, ensuring peace of mind during every appointment. Health officials are predicting a resurgence in COVID-19, and our teams have always incorporated hospital-grade sterilization techniques into our care. Our team members are fully vaccinated, outfitted with the best personal protective equipment, follow stringent hand-sanitizing practices, and go through regular health screenings.
What’s the Catch?
There isn’t one. All you have to do is schedule a pop-up and find an available conference room or unoccupied space in your office for us to use. Seriously, that’s it.
- We handle the setup and breakdown of our mobile dental suite and all equipment.
- We create a branded microsite to market the service to your staff and inform them of everything they need to know in advance.
- We provide access to CUSPID, our proprietary dental technology platform, which enables employees to manage everything from booking appointments to accessing their own patient records and more.
- With all Dental PPO plans, our preventative services are covered at 100%. You pay nothing while promoting the utilization of a benefit that is completely subsidized yet under-utilized.
Easy, Effective, Effortless
To see our comprehensive yet convenient set up for yourself, check out this video of an actual dental pop up! Then get in touch with us to see how we can drive improvements in your company’s wellness initiatives to ensure a happy, healthy, and high-performing workforce.