Workers Cite Saboteurs of Workplace Wellness Efforts

Two-thirds of HR managers (66%) reported their organization has expanded their health and wellness offerings in the past five years, according to a survey from OfficeTeam.

HR managers cited some of the most innovative things they’ve heard of a company doing to support employee health and wellness, including:

• Paying employees extra money if they don’t check work email while on vacation;
• Offering onsite exercise, meditation, yoga and healthy cooking classes;
• Providing free massages;
• Having a nurse’s department in the office;
• Giving workers fitness tracking devices; and
• Offering onsite personal trainers.

Eighty-nine percent of workers said their company is supportive of their wellness goals. However, some cited saboteurs of their wellness goals. Employees cited food at office celebrations (30%) and snacks brought in by colleagues (22%) as the biggest obstacles to meeting health and wellness goals. Other obstacles include: free meals, the vending machine and the office candy jar (all three cited by 10% of employees); happy hours or after-work drinks (9%); and business trips (8%).

More than two in five professionals (44%) said they eat healthier when they work from home. Of all respondent groups, male employees (53%) and those ages 18 to 34 (55%) reported this most often.  Three in five professionals (60%) bring their lunch to the office. Women (73%) and workers ages 55 and older (75%) are most likely to pack their meals.