Employers not Offering Wellness Benefits Desired

January 20, 2012 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Fitness center discounts is the top wellness benefit employees say their employers can offer. 

According to the Principal Financial Well-Being Index, the top four wellness benefits offered are online wellness information (19%), educational tools or resources (18%), fitness center discounts (17%) and printed wellness information (17%).

The top four benefits employees would most like to see their employer offer are fitness center discounts (25%), on-site preventive screenings (22%) and access to wellness experts such as nutritionists (21%) and onsite fitness facilities (19%).

Employers encourage their employees to participate in wellness programs offered at the workplace in a number of ways. Nearly two in 10 employees (18%) indicated their management encourages them to participate in wellness benefits. Sixteen percent of employees are offered lower health insurance costs for participating in wellness benefits at their workplace. Another 12% of employees are offered other financial incentives (such as gift certificates or discounts) or offered cash incentives for participating.

According to the survey, employees (including those not offered wellness benefits in their workplace) were asked to identify three benefits that would encourage them to participate in a wellness program.

•  Nearly one in two employees (45%) chose better overall physical health as a benefit of participating in a wellness program.

•  Other top mentions included receiving a meaningful incentive from their employer for participation (30%) reduced personal healthcare costs, greater chance of living a longer, healthier life and reduced stress (29% each). The employer making it convenient for them to participate was mentioned by 23% of employees, down significantly from 28% in 2010.