More employers are offering workplace wellness programs than ever before. This year, close to half of the 1,977 business decision-makers surveyed for the fifth annual Aflac WorkForces Report said their companies sponsor workplace wellness programs, up from just 30 percent in 2012. Insurance brokers noted a similar trend, and just over half (53 percent) agree1 they regularly recommend wellness programs to their clients.
Not only are more businesses turning to workplace wellness programs, but the study found that employers and brokers may also be becoming more effective when executing wellness initiatives. Over half of employers that offer wellness programs (53 percent) believe their program is effective,2 which is up 7 percentage points compared to 2014. And nearly 4 in 10 brokers (39 percent) agree1 they have helped clients lower health insurance premiums as a result of their wellness programs, which is an increase of five percentage points compared to 2013 and 2014 (34 percent).
Wellness Programs Influence Employee Satisfaction
One advantage to having a workplace wellness program is the influence it can have on employee satisfaction. Out of those with wellness programs, 3 in 4 employers agree their programs improve worker satisfaction.
And employees who participate in their companies’ wellness programs are more satisfied3 in their jobs (70 percent vs. 59 percent) and with their benefits packages (66 percent vs. 58 percent) than those who don’t participate in their companies’ programs. What’s more, employees whose companies offer workplace wellness programs are less likely4 to look for new jobs in the next 12 months than those without wellness programs (46 percent vs. 52 percent).
What are Successful Programs Doing Differently?
Wellness programs come in all shapes and sizes, but not all programs are successful with helping companies offer lower premiums to their employees. Surprisingly, the study found that the most popular program components may not be the most effective.
For instance, although few companies with workplace wellness programs offer an on-site doctor or nurse (17 percent), over half of those that do (65 percent) agree5 they are able to offer lower health insurance premiums as a result of their wellness program. On the other hand, over half of employers with a wellness program offer Employee Assistance Programs (54 percent), but just half of these (51 percent) agree5 they are able to offer lower health insurance premiums as a result of their wellness program.
Well-rounded Benefits + Communications = Employee Engagement
Wellness programs may boast higher engagement when paired with other work site perks and strong communications strategies. The study found that wellness program participation is higher among employers that offer financial guidance and education, voluntary benefits and flexible scheduling. It’s also higher among companies that have increased the frequency of benefits communications in the past year. Having multiple options may boost communications opportunities and awareness overall, which can be amplified when an employer works to communicate frequently about their benefits programs.
About the Study
The 2015 Aflac WorkForces Report is the fifth annual Aflac employee benefits study examining benefit trends and attitudes. The study, conducted in January and February 2015 by Research Now, captured responses from 1,977 benefits decision-makers and 5,337 employees from across the United States. To learn more about the Aflac WorkForces Report, visit AflacWorkForcesReport.com.
The Broker Survey was conducted online within the United States between January 20, 2015, and February 10, 2015, among 306 insurance brokers or producers employed at a company with three or more employees. No theoretical sampling error can be calculated; a full methodology is available.
1 Completely or strongly agree
2 Extremely or very effective
3 Extremely or very satisfied
4 Extremely, very or somewhat likely
5 Somewhat or strongly agree
Images via Aflac
Aira Bongco
Yes. The happier the employees, the better the work results and outputs.
I think that wellness programs are good because it does not only help employees, it also triples their productivity.
I think that it rises simply because there is now a need for it. Employees now need more than just a job. They need something that can also enrich their life as well.