As the debate in Washington continues over how to solve the healthcare problem, some companies are looking to reduce healthcare costs in the long run by providing workplace wellness centers. Hobby Lobby, for example, has just opened a clinic for its full-time employees.
The new health and wellness center, located at Hobby Lobby’s corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City, benefits full-time employees and families of the arts-and-crafts retail chain along with its affiliates — Mardel, Crafts Etc!, and Hemispheres. The clinic is administered by the healthcare company Concentra, and employees covered under Hobby Lobby’s health insurance plan receive free medical care at the center. Those not covered pay a $30 office visit fee through a payroll deduction.
David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, sees obvious benefits for his workers.
“The fact that an employee can get to the doctor and get back to work quicker will save time of absentee and lost work,” he shares. “We feel like it could lower their medical expenses because they will potentially get treatment quicker than waiting for a situation to get worse and needing more significant treatment.”
According to the retail CEO, the clinic will allow for more health and wellness training for specific issues — such as “smoking cessation, weight control, breast exams…those kinds of things that teaching and training potentially can prevent issues that could come up.”
Green says all this makes for a better employee, which is a win-win for everyone. “But even if it isn’t cost-saving, we’d do it,” he told The Oklahoman. “It’s the right thing
(Source: OneNewsNow)