Properly designed and executed wellness programs can reduce health-care costs and absenteeism while increasing productivity, according to a new report from Cigna. "Health and Wellness in Workplaces: What Works? ROI Analysis of Health and Wellness Interventions" is the largest global review of the impact of workplace wellness interventions, according to researchers. Several key findings can help employers and benefits providers design effective programs.

Focused programs deliver the greatest impact. The most successful wellness programs are those that have been carefully selected to tackle specific loss-drivers. For example, implementing case management to drive reductions in absenteeism; disease management to reduce health-care claims costs; and lifestyle programs to tackle physical health. As an important first step, employers should review employee data that have been collected from health screenings or self-reported health assessments to identify the specific underlying drivers or poor health or well-being before designing a wellness program.