Employees want to be healthy and want help | Segal Benz

National Business Group on Health survey finds good support for wellness programs

A recent survey from the National Business Group on Health finds that, although employees want to improve their health, the demands of work and personal life and overall stress make it difficult to meet their goals.

• The vast majority (88 percent) of employees have taken steps to improve their health in the past year
• One out of four workers said they are more stressed today than they were two years ago
• The three top stress factors cited are work and finances, both cited by 54 percent of respondents, and work/life balance cited by 43 percent
• A third of respondents indicated they would take advantage of stress management programs if offered at work
• About three-quarters of respondents (74 percent) also stated that they are trying to adopt healthier lifestyles today with the hope their health care costs will be more manageable in the future
• Slightly more than one half (54 percent) are saving money to cover health care costs in the future

And, of course, communication plays an important role:

• 43 percent said they took action to improve their overall health based on employee communication
• But, only half rate their health care benefits communication as valuable or extremely valuable

From the press release: ”Our survey amply demonstrates that employer health plan offerings and communications catalyze employee health improvement efforts,” stated Ms. Darling. “Employers can strengthen their impact on employee health efforts to reduce costs by identifying and addressing the real or perceived barriers to utilization of wellness and health improvement services, and continuing to drive the conversation about the importance of using health services effectively.”

Employers can do a lot to help employees understand how programs work and reach their health and wellness goals. This open enrollment season, be sure to promote benefits that are under-used by employees (especially things like the FSA that helps employees save money and the EAP which can help with financial stress) and make it easy for them to take action with health and wellness programs.

See our Last-Minute Enrollment Tips for specific ways to promote those plans.