About half of U.S. companies recently surveyed by global consulting firm Watson Wyatt and the National Business Group on Health have or are planning to reinforce programs aimed at improving worker health, despite pressure to reduce benefits budgets.

Of more than 280 companies surveyed, 51 percent is planning no change or a slight increase to their health and productivity program budgets, compared with 44 percent that are planning cuts. In addition, nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of employers have already enhanced their onsite offerings with programs geared toward stress management, EAPs or health coaches, or expect to do so in the next 12 months.

The findings have been released in a study, the 2009 Staying@Work Report.

"Companies are finding some relief from high benefit costs by investing in programs that improve the health of their workers," said Shelly Wolff, national leader of health and productivity consulting at Watson Wyatt in a released statement.

Forty-two percent of employers note an increase in employee utilization of the company health plan. Almost half (47 percent) of employers are seeing an increase in their workers' use of the employee assistance program (EAP).

Experts say work-related stress is rising, and could be a factor in more than 30 percent of employers that report seeing an increase in disability claims and unplanned absence.

"Workers who haven't lost their jobs are under great amounts of stress and are increasingly turning to their employer for advice, treatment or assistance that goes beyond basic coverage when they get sick. Still, employer initiatives that effectively deal with stress are limited."

Almost 80 percent of employers cite excessive work hours as a leading cause of employee stress, according to the study. However, only 21 percent indicate they are taking no action to address it properly.

"Not only are stressed workers less productive, they are also likely to incur higher health costs for themselves and their employer," said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health. "Companies most effective at mitigating the impact of stress are moving in the right direction--helping employees become more efficient while working to lower benefit costs and strengthen balance sheets."

To view the full 2009/2010 Staying@Work report, visit: www.watsonwyatt.com/StayingAtWork.

Instant Insights /

Survey: Companies enhance wellness programs to curtail rising costs

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