The debate about whether employer wellness programs return significant health care savings rages on, but one thing is apparent: wellness is a big deal for employees and potential recruits.

According to a survey from staffing firm OfficeTeam, workers expect employers to provide them assistance in meeting their health and wellness goals—and another study, this one from Optum, finds that employees “who actively participate in employer-sponsored health and wellness programs are much more likely to be proud to work for their employer and promote their company to others as a great place to work.”

Considering that the OfficeTeam survey also found that 73 percent of professionals surveyed said a company's health and wellness offerings influence their decision to work there, that means that employers seeking to recruit and retain staff had better take a second look at what they do regarding employee wellness.

What do employees expect? According to OfficeTeam, they put the most emphasis on wellness incentives that reward healthy behavior (26 percent) and fitness facilities or programs (23 percent). The good thing, for employers, is that those are the most common perks offered by organizations, at 43 percent and 41 percent, respectively. However, 20 percent of companies provide no health and wellness options.

According to Optum's survey, 48 percent of workers who frequently participate in health and wellness programs are extremely likely to recommend their employer as a place to work. Among those who don't participate, just 29 percent would recommend their employer—and at companies that offer no such options, only 18 percent of employees would do so.

In fact, according to Optum, employees with access to seven to eight health and wellness programs were one and a half times more likely to continue working for their current employer, and three times more likely to recommend their employer, compared with workers with no access to such programs. Health and wellness program categories, said the report, “include tools that help them assess their health, biometric screenings, access to wellness coaching, having onsite medical clinics, disease case management programs and fitness challenges, among others.”

“Disengaged employees can be costly both to an employer's bottom line and to employee morale,” says Seth Serxner, chief health officer of Optum. “While there are many programs and initiatives employers can offer to help improve employees' morale, our analysis shows that participation in relevant and easily accessible well-being programs may be overlooked by some employers.”

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Survey says: Wellness pays off for recruitment and retention

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