When it comes to good health, it’s all about the whole picture.People take into account their physical, emotional and financial health whenassessing their well-being. And since such a significant numberof waking hours are spent at work, employers are rethinkingconventional approaches to workplace wellness, shifting to becomemore holistic and taking on a more supportive role to helpemployees achieve better health.

There’s a need for their involvement. Optum's Eighth Annual Wellness in the WorkplaceStudy examined large employers’ (3,000 or more employees)latest strategies in addressing employee health and wellness. It found thatapproximately one-fourth of employers strongly agree that theiremployees take responsibility for their health and well-being, andonly 28 percent strongly agree their employees know how to navigatethe health system. Even fewer -- 18 percent -- strongly agree theiremployees feel they have enough money to pay for health care inretirement.

To help their employees combat some of these concerns, employersare stepping in to create healthier workplace environments,providing easier access to health resources and offering educationon how to pay for health care expenses.

Nearly one-third now have an on-site health specialist, up from26 percent in 2015. Fifty-one percent of employers now addressfinancial health, up from 38 percent in 2015. The number ofcompanies educating workers about health care finances (28 percent)has also increased. Taking steps to engage employees in theirhealth can make a difference. According to a recent UnitedHealthcare study, nearly 60percent of people with access to such programs say the initiativesmade a positive impact on their health.

Other emerging programs broaden employee access to care whilehelping employers manage costs. For example, the number ofemployers who offer telemedicine services -- one-third -- hasnearly doubled from the percentage of those who offered it in2014.

In another sign large companies are striving to be moresupportive of their employees’ overall well-being, investments inwellness program budgets and staff continue to increase. Nearlythree-quarters of employers report that they have a dedicatedwellness staffer, up from 59 percent in 2015. And nearly one-thirdsay they are increasing their wellness program budgets, comparedwith just 20 percent who say they were increasing budgets in 2014.Employers are also shifting more resources into wellness programcommunications, program evaluation and the workplaceenvironment.

In fact, nearly half of employers recently made changes to theirenvironment, with 52 percent electing to offer healthier food andbeverage options in vending machines, followed by providing healthycatering options for meetings, promoting a smoke-free campus,offering healthy options in the cafeteria and providing ergonomicor standing desks.

From small steps to big investments, every positive change madeby employers to help their employees achieve better health can makea difference. Regardless of size, employers should think abouttheir employees’ health more holistically and identify ways to helpthem improve their well-being.