More Companies Are Offering Health and Wellness Programs

More companies are offering health and wellness programs this year than ever before, according to a study by staffing firm OfficeTeam.

In a recent survey from staffing firm OfficeTeam, two-thirds of HR managers (66%) reported their organization has expanded their health and wellness offerings in the past five years.

And these efforts haven’t gone unnoticed: 89% of workers said their company is supportive of their wellness goals.

As part of these efforts, companies are:

• 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.
• Offering onsite personal trainers.

“Since professionals spend so much of their time at work, health and wellness programs aren’t just a nice to have — they are becoming a key factor in employee job satisfaction and well-being,” said Brandi Britton, a district president for OfficeTeam. “Not offering these benefits can put a company at a disadvantage when it comes to staff recruitment and retention.”

The Enemy of Health and Wellness: Snacks

• Employees cited food at office celebrations (30%) and snacks brought in by colleagues (22%) as the biggest obstacles to meeting health and wellness goals.
• 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.

While more than half of employees (54%) are fans of the office candy jar, one-third (33%) have a love-hate relationship with it. Men (61%) and workers ages 18 to 34 (62%) are especially enthusiastic about this supply of sweets.