Enhanced Wellness Plans Yield Top Results

A survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans says 45 percent of organizations offering stress management programs found positive impacts on healthcare costs, 43 percent experienced improved employee health screening data, and 53 percent saw better results with employee engagement and satisfaction, reports Plan Sponsor . Other features leading to better employee engagement include on-site meditation/mindfulness programs, a wellness-centered website, nutrition counseling, and wellness contests. Fifty-four percent of employers citing positive effects of wellness programming on healthcare costs have senior leadership talks directly with employees on wellness information. "Whether a workplace wellness program is taking a more holistic approach or focusing on cost savings, this report distinctly revealed that it is not only leadership support but, more specifically, leadership's communication of the program to staff that is critical for program success," says the International Foundation's Julie Stich. She also notes most firms that deploy a strategy of organized, communicative leadership have above-average participation rates in wellness programs. The foundation determined participation rises with implementation of nutrition programs, fitness programs, wellness seminars, health fairs, health screening programs, and flu shot programs. In addition, 54 percent of companies with boosted wellness outcomes provide on-site walking paths and 41 percent offer free or subsidized wearable fitness trackers. Among firms that offer these programs for the purpose of providing worker well-being, 49 percent encourage activity and/or exercise breaks during working hours while 43 percent support on-site exercise programs.