Initiative Provides Companies With the Know How to Improve Employee HealthWashington, DC -- Today, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease is pleased to kick off the 5th Annual National Employee Wellness Month. Founded in 2009, National Employee Wellness Month is an annual campaign designed to promote existing programs and to encourage development of successful strategies aimed at prevention and good health in the workplace.Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, are the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 82 cents of every dollar spent on health care. Recent research suggests that businesses are spending upwards of 20 percent of their payrolls on employee health and health-related absences. Employers and employees are shouldering the high costs of chronic disease – health care premiums for employer-sponsored family coverage have increased 87 percent since 2000.“In order to address the true cost driver within the health care system—chronic disease – it is increasingly important for business leaders to reserve a spot for workplace wellness in their overall corporate strategy,” said Ken Thorpe, Ph.D., Chairman, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University. “While successful workplace wellness programs do require an investment of budget, time and commitment, the programs that help prevent and manage these debilitating health conditions ultimately provide countless benefits for all.”This year’s National Employee Wellness Month campaign includes the commitment of more than 150 leading employers representing more than 65,000 lives.“Our support of National Employee Wellness Month is another part of PFCD’s ongoing efforts to drive awareness around not only the costs and implications of chronic disease, but also the many existing programs and solutions that are already measurably demonstrating health improvement and having a positive impact on companies’ bottom line,” concluded Thorpe.For examples on workplace wellness in action, PFCD has highlighted Promising Practices with proven results.More information and resources about workplace wellness, along with suggested ideas for celebrating National Employee Wellness Month, can be found at www.fightchonicdisease.org or at www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com.