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Employer-Sponsored Wellness Programs: Carrots or Sticks?
Workplace Options’ survey shows majority of employees view incentives as reward, not penalty
Contact:
Christine Hall
chall@capstrat.com
919-882-1998
28 April 2010 – Raleigh, NC – — Should employers be responsible for promoting healthy lifestyles to workers? To some the question is just as heated as asking if religion should be taught in schools. With health care costs on the rise and our nation debating the options for a system-wide reform, employers are balancing how to continue offering valuable health benefits to their employees.
Three out of four American workers feel that employers should offer workplace wellness programs in an effort to improve their health, according to a recent poll commissioned by Workplace Options. And the majority of workers (59 percent) view employer incentives for health and wellness as a reward for being fit. Only one in five workers view these incentives as penalty for being unfit.
With the escalating cost of health care, the idea of workplace wellness programs provides an alternate solution to both companies and their co-workers alike. The majority of workers, 69 percent, felt they would be more likely to use an employer-sponsored wellness program if participation were to reduce their share of the health care insurance premium.
"Employer-sponsored wellness programs are a great way for companies to not only encourage healthy activities for employees, but substantially offset the high cost of health insurance for both the company and its workers," said Dean Debnam, CEO of Workplace Options. "From a business standpoint, such initiatives are an investment in your greatest asset –- your employees –- and the return on your investment is likely to make a difference in both morale and the bottom line."
And in return, 85 percent of workers felt that participation in wellness programs would help them stay fit –- raising the question of whether employers should take advantage of the opportunity to proactively invest in the health of their workers through wellness initiatives versus a reactive investment in sick care. Although establishing employee wellness programs often involve additional costs to the company, the end result is healthier employees and lower group health insurance premiums.
Additionally, there are many low-cost ways in which employers can offer wellness programs to their co-workers and still provide valuable benefits. For example, a workplace can form a walking program or encourage group physical activities to get employees up and moving. Or snacks offered around the office can be substituted with fresh fruit.
Part of the ongoing debate is whether it is necessary to offer monetary incentives to employees in order to achieve participation in such programs, and the verdict is still out. While 51 percent of respondents indicated no monetary incentive would be necessary to encourage their participation, 17 percent reported that $10 would encourage their participation and 18 percent would like to see at least a $100 payout to make it appealing.
"Programs that enlist the help of wellness coaches, offer online sessions for weight management or smoking cessation, or on-site health screenings can make a huge impact on the well-being of employees," said Alan King, president and COO of Workplace Options. "Healthy employees are less likely to miss work due to illness, and increasing morale can lead to increased productivity –- a win-win for employees and the company."
Companies may also want to consider exploring the option of offering wellness program benefits to employees as a means of recruiting and retaining talent. Nearly two thirds of workers polled (61 percent) said they would feel more appreciated by an employer who offered wellness programs, and would be more loyal to that company.
The national survey was conducted by the North Carolina firm of Public Policy Polling, March 12-14, 2010. The survey polled 1,006 working Americans and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. Full survey results can be viewed at www.workplaceoptions.com/polls.asp.
About Workplace Options
Workplace Options helps employees balance their work, family and personal life in order to make their lives healthier, easier and more productive. The company's world-class employee support and work-life services provide information, resources, referrals and consultation on a variety of issues ranging from dependent care, legal and financial issues to stress management and wellness.
Drawing from an international network of credentialed providers and professionals, Workplace Options is the world's largest integrated employee support services and work-life provider. Service centers in Raleigh. N.C., London, Toronto and Dublin support more than 32 million employees in 20,000 organizations, across 170 countries. To learn more, visit www.workplaceoptions.com.
© 2012 Workplace Options, Inc. All rights reserved.
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