The health care industry is changing. Speculation as to the long-term implication of these changes is rampant, but no one can say for sure what the future holds. The one thing that we can say for sure is that the healthier we are, the less we spend on healthcare in the long run. Due to the possible benefits of wellness programs, it is no surprise that company-wide wellness programs have become common in the last twenty years. Research has shown that participation in wellness programs increases job satisfaction and decreases employee absenteeism (see this 2008 study) and reduces employee medical costs over time (see this 2010 study). Many wellness programs require a significant investment up front by employers and even though they may not see a return on their investment immediately, they typically see a return in the long run. In the end employers are faced with lower replacement costs for absent employees and more candidates attracted to their company workforce. Although the costs for wellness programs are front heavy and often prevent small businesses from joining in, the cost does not have to stop businesses from making a few changes to improve employee wellness. Below are a few of our favorite examples of companies who have implemented successful wellness programs regardless of company size: AnswerLab A small website research company with only about 40 employees, AnswerLab makes health and wellness a breeze. A few of the many benefits include: frequent office