Most employers say they offer health and wellness programs,
but only half of employees surveyed say they are aware of what's
offered.
OAKLAND, Calif. ,
May 15,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --Over the past couple of years,
companies have invested heavily in workplace health and wellness
programs (HWPs). According to health and productivity research
non-profit Integrated Benefit Institute (IBI), there is a
significant disconnect between program availability and employee
utilization.
IBI surveyed over 900 employers and employees to understand
their perspectives on HWPs. Findings indicate that employers
generally believe in the efficacy and importance of these programs.
However, employees express lower perceived value and participation
rates, highlighting a mismatch between the programs and employee
needs.
Half (49.8%) of employees say they are aware of their employers'
health and wellness programs, while 64% of employees who are aware
of the programs utilize them. The top reasons for employee
participation include improving physical health (65.2%), enhancing
mental well-being (54.7%), and managing stress (50.9%).
Most employers (86.2%) indicated they offer health and wellness
programs, showing a strong commitment to their employees'
well-being. Over 80% of these organizations consider employee
health very important and over 65% view their company as 'very
responsible' or 'extremely responsible' towards employee health and
wellness.
Mental health programs are the most common, offered by 68% of
employers, followed by preventive health screenings, financial
wellness programs and physical activity programs. However,
employers report that they struggle with low participation in most
program types - including 63% reporting low participation in weight
loss, nutrition (50%), and mental health (56%). Employees' major
barriers to participation include lack of time (60.9%), limited
interest in offerings (36.9%), and lack of awareness/access
(34.2%).
The disparities between employer and employee responses
illustrate that employers overestimate some aspects regarding the
use and satisfaction of wellness programs. Employers tend to
overestimate high satisfaction levels, anticipating that nearly
half of employees would be very satisfied with the programs, while
only a quarter of employees report such high satisfaction
levels.
"Health and wellness programs are a core component of many
employer-sponsored benefit programs," shared Jim Huffman, President & CEO of IBI. "Much
has been invested to help mitigate the risks of preventable medical
conditions, yet the programs are not fully utilized by eligible
employees. This valuable research sheds light on some of the
underlying challenges that stand in the way of full
engagement."
Overall, employers generally have a more positive perception of
their employees' health in all four categories – physical, mental,
financial, and social- compared to the assessment of the employees
we surveyed. The disconnect, particularly in financial and mental
health aspects, suggests that employers may need to reassess and
align their strategies to better support their employees' actual
health concerns and needs.
What can employers do?
"As organizations invest significantly in health and wellness
programs, it is crucial to bridge the gap between availability and
actual employee participation. Our research highlights that
tailored communication strategies, leadership support, and
culturally sensitive initiatives are key to fostering a healthier,
more engaged workforce," said IBI Researcher Sera-Leigh Ghouralal,
PhD. By implementing these evidence-based strategies, organizations
can significantly enhance HWP participation rates while fostering a
healthier, more engaged, and productive workforce.
About Integrated Benefits Institute
The Integrated Benefit Institute's independent research,
industry-leading tools and data resources help companies link
health-related programs to the outcomes that maximize the
contributions of people to productivity and business performance.
Founded in 1995, IBI is a national nonprofit research organization
and business association serving more than 1,600 employer and
supplier members. For additional information, please
visit www.ibiweb.org and follow us
on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact: Jennifer Santisi,
jsantisi@ibiweb.org
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lack-of-time-limited-interest-in-offerings-cited-as-top-reasons-employees-dont-participate-in-employer-wellness-programs-according-to-integrated-benefits-institute-analysis-302146534.html
SOURCE Integrated Benefits Institute