An increasingly popular way in which business owners are helping their workers stay healthy is through wellness programs, enabling staff members to devote time not only to their professional life but also to their personal well-being, thanks to the resources made available by wellness initiatives. However, based on the results of a recent study, many people are opposed to the way in which wellness programs are utilized to get more individuals to join them.
More than three in four respondents – 76 percent – indicated that they thought it was appropriate for companies to offer wellness programs that promoted healthy behaviors, according to a recent survey performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Additionally, when the question was posed to exclusively those people who had employee benefits through their employer, 80 percent believed this was a fine thing to do.
Employees oppose being penalized for not joining
At the same time, though, they're not as wild about tying insurance premiums to their participation, or lack thereof. Just 35 percent said it was appropriate to mandate that workers pay more for their health care if they didn't take part in their company's wellness program, with 62 percent saying it shouldn't happen. The same rate felt it was inappropriate solely among adults who had coverage from their workplace.
While a majority of workers though that it was a good idea to reward employees for making strides with their health when joined with a wellness program, most didn't think that people should be charged financially for failing to reach a health-related goal. Approximately 70 percent of respondents considered it unfair to dock employees with financial repercussions after not meeting an aim, KFF revealed. About one-quarter didn't have a problem with it, with 4 percent undecided on the matter.
David Lewis, an employee benefits expert, wrote in a recent piece for the Tallahassee Democrat that the key to an effective wellness program is the way in which it's implemented.
"Successful worksite wellness programs help improve employees' health and productivity and reduce medical costs for employees and the company," said Lewis. "The Wellness Council of America states that workplace wellness programs are a wise investment to address rising health care costs and help improve employee's health and well-being."
In order to improve the health arenas in which workers may be lacking, business owners need to get a better understanding of who their employees are. For example, with employee surveys and health assessments, executives can determine where workers' strengths and weaknesses are. For example, if high blood pressure is a problem, wellness programs should have opportunities for them to manage their weight, such as through meal planning and an easy-to-follow exercise regimen.
Additionally, studies suggest that people tend to be more successful with their wellness strategies when they have someone else that they're working with. Lewis recommended making wellness programs available not only for workers, but also their spouses or domestic partners.
