More recently, the impact of presenteeism - reduced productivity while at work due to illness - has been quantified. In fact the impact of presenteeism on productivity is far greater than that of absenteeism.

Studies out of America and Australia, demonstrate presenteeism is two to three times more costly to your company than absenteeism. A 2007 Medibank Private study put the annual cost of presenteeism to Australia at $25.7 billion.

Employee health and wellbeing programs are effective insurance against the costs of lost productivity: the average Australian has 2.9 health risk factors, with each risk factor resulting in a 2.4% reduction in their productivity.

On a wage of $50,000 p.a. this equates to ~$3,500 lost in productivity for that individual. For every 100 employees, that is a health-related productivity loss of $350,000 every year. Therefore reducing health risk in employees will increase productivity and bring company costs down.

Corporate Fitness Culture (CFC) combines online health screening, educational seminars and program outcome analysis to not only guide your employees toward better health, but quantify the benefit to your company.

References:
Sick at Work: The Cost of Presenteeism, Medibank Private Limited, May 2007.
The Health of Australia's Workforce. Medibank Private Limited, November 2005.
The Future@Work Health Report, Wesley Corporate Health, November 2006.

Healthy Heart Tick

Corporate Fitness Culture 20-minute healthy heart assessment measures an employee's major cardiovascular disease risk factors, as well as providing an overview of their general health. On completion of the assessment, detailed individual reports are provided to employees, and aggregated reports will be provided to the company. This enables companies to identify common health risk categories and implement well-targeted solutions, optimising the return on their investment in employee health. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the bite4life 12 week healthy heart program, which provides a customised diet and fitness program designed to reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall health.

Employee Health Check

The Corporate Fitness Culture 'Gold' builds on the Health Check by providing a more detailed health review. This 30-minute workplace health assessment includes a blood pathology and physiological evaluation. The assessment enables the detection of potential issues that may affect an employee's health and productivity. Detailed individual reports are provided to employees, and aggregated reports are provided to the company. CFC only uses the very best equipment and expertise: Cholestech technology and experienced professional health practitioners.

Diabetes Screening

For every Australian adult diagnosed with diabetes, another has it but doesn't know about it. Diabetes, if left untreated, can have serious implications on an individual's health, wellbeing and life expectancy. The Corporate Fitness Culture Diabetes Screening is a convenient 10-minute assessment of an employee's risk factors associated with diabetes. Blood glucose checks are performed using advanced and reliable Cholestech finger-prick technology, together with Body mass index (BMI) and waist measurements are also used to form a reliable evaluation of risk. On completion of the assessment employees receive individual results, and practical strategies to minimise the risk of developing diabetes from an experienced health practitioner. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the bite4life 12 week diabetes program which provides customised diet and fitness program designed to reduce the risk and improve overall health.

Health Fund Rebate

The 12 week bite4life employee health program is recognised by major health funds and members can claim a percentage of the program cost back. All bite4life practitioners are recognised by the health funds and any additional consultations can also be claimed by health fund members. bite4life offer company employees the complete health and wellness overhaul including online surveys, nutritional seminar and a 12 week online employee health program. The online health program is monitored by qualified health practitioners and can be claimed by employees through certain health funds.

Methodology

Corporate Fitness Culture provides better employee health, reduced absenteeism and "presenteeism", and better individual and organisational productivity. CFC's corporate health and wellbeing programs not only focus on outcomes but also provide the tools necessary to measure them. To enable this, we work with you to follow a five-step process:

To enable this, we work with you to follow a five-step process:

• Step 1 - Identify your company's aims
• Step 2 - Provide online health Surveys
• Step 3 - Educate employees through nutritional seminars and testing
• Step 4 - Implement a program that successfully changes individual health
• Step 5 - Assess the health and fitness of your employees through testing

Our assessment is delivered on both an individual and organisational level. All employees who complete our online health surveys are provided with a full report detailing:

• Their current level of health and overall risk of illness
• Key risk factors that warrant attention
• Recommendations for dietary improvement
• Exercise suggestions

At a company level, we can identify:

• The initial overall health of your employee group, by gender and by age
• The cost to your company of employee health risks, plus the financial savings from reducing these risks
• The participation of your employees in our programs and the changes in their health and productivity as a result of the program's delivery.

Accurate, strategic and regular assessment is essential to measuring the benefits of any program. Corporate Fitness Culture is continually developing our assessment and reporting capability, to ensure the best outcomes for your company.

This pyramid summarises the value of our health and wellbeing programs to your organisation at different levels:

• The Peak: Detailed analysis of the main health risks affecting your people, allowing for targeting of future programs and better ROI.
• Empowering Employees: The bite4life platform allows individuals to select health & fitness programs and pay for them. This process reduces the HR manager's workload and provides programs that individuals want.
• The Base: Personalised health, physical activity and nutrition programs for your people. This also includes testing to assess the benefit of the programs.

The bite4life's online platform allows wellbeing programs to reach employees across the country, no matter how small or remote their offices. Whether your employees are at work, home or on the road, they have access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your company receives:

• A dedicated website, customised with your organisation's logo and corporate colours and secured exclusively for the use of your employees
• Regular reporting on participation, usage and health outcomes
• Promotional and marketing assistance, including regular newsletters
• Onsite services to increase awareness and maximise employee participation.

Your employees receive:

• A wide range of programs helping individuals achieve health goals such as weight loss, stress reduction and smoking cessation
• Personalised seven-day diet plans
• Personalised exercise plans
• Physical training (corporate triathlons, fun runs, yoga/ pilates and much more)
• Online tracking of all results
• Online access to qualified health and fitness practitioners