What do workers want most in health-related apps and other digital tools?

Improved access to high-quality health care that is "personal, convenient, affordable and secure," according to "Health on Demand," a new survey by Mercer Marsh Benefits, Mercer and Oliver Wyman.

The survey polled more than 16,000 workers and 1,300 employers in 13 markets around the world. The following results are for U.S. respondents only.

U.S. workers rate four innovations highly or extremely valuable: an app to help find the right doctor or medical care when and where needed; electronic and portable individual and family medical records; access to telemedicine; and wearables for self-managing health conditions.

"The first two innovations offer improved health care access, and all four offer greater convenience and even empowerment, allowing the individual more direct control over their health care," the authors write. "Workers in the U.S. are less interested in digital solutions that employ AI or virtual solutions than workers globally."

Indeed, just 32 percent of U.S. workers say they would value algorithm-based custom treatment based on a person's genetic sequence, compared with 41 percent of workers globally.

"Companies looking to include digital solutions as part of their health offerings are starting from an encouraging position in which barriers to adoption are generally low and workers' trust in their employers is high," the authors write. "Still, some workers do articulate concerns about data privacy and other issues. The most common reasons given for not being willing to try digital health solutions are concerns over a lack of human attention, an absence of personal need, and data privacy and security concerns."

To help allay worker concerns that health information might be used to influence internal staffing decisions, employers should implement appropriate data privacy policies and practices and communicate them clearly to workers, according to the report.

While some U.S. workers have concerns, more than one in four say they would be less likely to move elsewhere for work if their employer offered digital health solutions.

"While this number might seem small, it is significant relative to other factors affecting attraction and retention," the authors write. "Health benefits in general compare favorably with other benefits—and even compensation—in their ability to influence employment decisions, and these results suggest that enhancing health benefits with digital solutions will make them even 'stickier.'"

Regarding the benefit to employers, more than seven in 10 U.S. senior decision makers surveyed believe digital health solutions will have a lot of or some impact on staff energy levels, and four out of 10 believe they will help them retain staff. Two-thirds of U.S. employers in the study say they are likely to invest more in digital health over the next five years.

"The results of 'Health on Demand' suggest that take-up of digital health programs is likely to be more effective if they are part of an integrated health and well-being strategy, rather than offered in isolation," the authors write. "An effective strategy is likely to have clear business support, role models and champions, and complementary workplace health policies and procedures."

Read more:

Instant Insights /

What workers want most in a digital health app

More From HR Executive

Related Stories

Recommended For You