Employee wellness programs

Over the last two years, employee wellness declined, while stress increased, according to recent research from LIMRA. The study, Wellness at Work: Financial, Emotional, and Physical Wellness Programs in the Workplace, found that workers are feeling more stress with many facing education debt, rising inflation, housing shortages, and increased pricing on groceries and other consumer goods, and that workers, particularly younger ones, are looking to employers to help with wellness programs, services, education, and benefits.

According to the study, wellness-related issues/worries are a significant workplace distraction for many workers. Nearly four in 10 workers reported that personal worries are a distraction to them at work. Financial (57 percent) and emotional issues (38 percent) are a greater workplace distraction than physical/health-related issues (30 percent).

Most workers also admit to needing or wanting education on a wide variety of wellness topics. These include education on managing their financial future (79 percent); managing health care needs (78 percent); managing emotional life/mental health (76 percent); and managing daily financial life (75 percent). LIMRA found that retirement planning is the most common type of financial education available to workers through their employers; 55 percent of employees report that their employer does offer or sponsor this education, and 41 percent report that they use it.

About half of workers reported that their employer did not offer a wellness program, and roughly a quarter of those workers said that they would use these programs if available. However, employee satisfaction with available wellness programs is very high—at 80 percent or more. “These programs can improve worker productivity and also help with employee retention, making it a smart investment for employers,” concluded LIMRA.

SOURCE: www.limra.com

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