Study Finds Wellness Programs Are Successful

More American workers recognize the rewards of participating in workplace wellness programs, according to the latest survey from Principal Financial. Sixty-two percent of workers, up from 55% in 2011, believe workplace wellness activities are successful in improving health and reducing health risks. In addition, 51% of respondents feel wellness benefits encourage them to work harder and perform better, and another 59% of program participants say they have more energy to be productive at work as a result of their participation in employer-sponsored wellness programs.

The biggest jump was that 43% of participants say wellness programs have led them to miss fewer days of work in 2012, up only 8% from 2011. However, despite the apparent benefits, about a third (34%) of workers still do not participate in any of the wellness programs offered by their employers.

These findings indicate that, while still difficult to measure with quantifiable certainty, wellness programs probably offer a good return on investment for employers. Also, employers have an important role to play in helping bridge the gap between the clear benefits of wellness programs and the still sizable portion of employees that choose not to participate. Proposed regulations recently released by HHS implement a provision in the ACA that allows employers to offer stronger financial incentives for employees to achieve improved health outcomes through wellness programs. NBCH submitted comments on the proposed regulations.