The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has created enormous uncertainty for business owners. They're unclear about what the law's mandates will cost them in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 and what additional benefits will need to be provided. All they know is that these things will cost them more and that they're going to be spending a significant amount of time and money in the foreseeable future.  

The most immediate strategy at this time are to control costs and maximize profitability. Therefore, the return on investment advantages of implementing company wellness programs must be harnessed.

Huge, hidden expenses exist in companies that are often not measured or discussed; the cost of absence, disability and lost productivity. In fact, personal illness accounts for 34 percent of unscheduled absences, often resulting in lost productivity and the need for higher headcounts, which leads to additional healthcare. It is imperative that companies place emphasis on their employees being healthy and productive as part of their planned profit models.