Employers are looking to establish employee wellness initiatives and expand existing programs, according to a survey.
About 60 percent of respondents told researchers they had some kind of wellness program running in 2011, up 13 percent from the previous year, according to the 2011 Willis Health and Productivity Survey. Almost as many said they plan to expand upon those efforts with additional programs or resources.
They did note some difficulties in measuring the success of such programs, indicating that businesses are experiencing some trouble differentiating between the results of the program and other factors which impact healthcare costs. The lack of data, staff and time is a typical issue that hinders evaluation. The most common programs focused on physical activity, weight management and quitting smoking.
More than half of respondents were also concerned with helping their employees maintain a balance between their work and their personal life, and more are establishing programs to address that issue. Many offer flexible start and end times. In addition to lowering employee benefit costs, some employers adopt these programs for their potential to improve employee attraction and retention.
