EMPLOYEE WELLNESS WEIGHS BIG ON SMALL BUSINESS

( FORT WORTH )—Whether they own a sole proprietorship or a growing company, small business owners are discovering that employee wellness can weigh big on their business' bottom line.

Of the 31 small business owners surveyed by the Small Business Wellness Initiative , 64 percent reported having unhealthy employees in their workforce. According to the survey, 87 percent of small business owners reported at least one smoker in the workplace, 73 percent reported at least one employee who suffered from depression or anxiety, 57 percent reported at least one employee who suffered from a chronic health problem and 54 percent reported employee alcohol use, all factors contributing to employee wellness.

Small business owners also recognized the consequences of an employee's well-being on productivity. The survey revealed that 90 percent of small business owners reported that an employee's personal stress affects their ability to work and 74 percent reported having to do extra work because an employee called in sick. Over 70 percent reported an employee brought personal problems to work and over 50 percent reported that an employee's failure to get help for a personal problem posed a productivity or safety risk in the workplace.

The Small Business Wellness Initiative will host the Wellness Pays Luncheon on Tuesday, August 10 that will discuss the results from a three-year research study on the effectiveness of wellness programs conducted in small businesses in Dallas , Denton and Tarrant counties. The complimentary luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Associated Builders and Contractors of North Texas office, located at 8440 Esters Blvd, Suite 120 , in Irving .

Businesses interested in learning how wellness programs can benefit their bottom line are invited to attend the luncheon. For more information, contact Roxanne Martinez at (817) 332-6329 ext. 240 or by email at: r.martinez@tarrantcouncil.org .

About the Small Business Wellness Initiative

The Small Business Wellness Initiative is a community collaborative project funded by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of the Small Business Wellness Initiative is to enhance the health, productivity and quality of work life for small business leaders, their employees and their communities. Community partners include Tarrant Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, the North Texas Small Business Development Center and Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems.

###