As wellness programs grow in popularity, employees overwhelmingly see value in these healthy activities but don't stay committed to them, according to a new survey from the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian). Nearly half of the employees who have participated in wellness programs in the past three years admit that their commitment trails off after just a few years.
Employees (68 percent) believe that incentives such as cash, gifts, and extra vacation days can help them to shore up the willpower to adopt healthier behaviors such as exercising, eating properly, and kicking their smoking habits.
Nevertheless, two-thirds of all employees and 85 percent of those who are currently enrolled or have participated in a wellness program in the past three years say that these programs are very effective in promoting good health.
Guardian, a leading provider of employee and voluntary benefits including group medical plans, conducted the survey, "Benefits & Behavior: Spotlight on Group Medical," to gain insight about consumer viewpoints on health, wellness, and medical insurance.
According to the study:
- Three in 10 employees either currently participate and/or have participated in a wellness program in the past three years.
- Only 35% of employees report that they have access to wellness programs at work.
- Half of those who believe that they have access to wellness programs at work are currently enrolled in a program.
A separate 2007 Guardian survey shows that larger employers are more likely to embrace wellness programs.
College graduates and the affluent are most likely to have participated in a wellness program in the past three years. Those with at least some college are more likely to favor health insurance covering complementary alternative medicine techniques.
Alternative techniques or practices that employees believe should be covered by insurance include:
o Chiropractic - 72 percent
o Nutritional counseling - 71 percent
o Acupuncture - 57 percent
o Herbalism/botanical medicine - 49 percent
o Homeopathy - 45 percent
o Reflexology - 41 percent
o Personal training - 41 percent
o Osteopathy - 40 percent
o Yoga - 39 percent
o Pilates - 31 percent
Source: Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
