Survey identifies obstacles to employee wellness

Thursday, 09 June 2011 16:00

News - Corporate Wellness Programs

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Organizations often implement employee wellness programs in an effort to reduce workplace stress, improve staff health and strengthen employee performance.

However, there are hurdles that organizations need to overcome in order to get workers to actively participate in such programs. A survey conducted by human resource company Aon Hewitt suggests that the road to employee wellness is paved with strategy.

A total of 56 percent of employers said that the biggest obstacle to getting workers to change their unhealthy habits is motivation. Another 26 percent said that resistance to change is an issue, while 23 percent reported the unpredictability of healthcare costs is a roadblock in lowering expenditures stemming from employee health benefits.

"It's clear that traditional annual trend mitigation tactics alone won't work. As a result, leading employers are implementing a 'house money, house rules' environment, using a mix of incentives, penalties and targeted messaging to reward healthy behaviors," said healthcare benefits expert John Zern.

Results of this study suggest that, in order for employee wellness programs to be effective, organizations must think about their unique workplace situation and tailor interventions to meet the needs of their staff.