Survey Says: Wellness Programs are Important Retention Tools

Forty-five percent of Americans working at small to medium-sized companies said that they would stay at their jobs longer because of employer-sponsored wellness programs, according to the latest Principal Financial Well-Being Index.

The survey also found that as a result of workplace wellness programs, 40% of workers say they are encouraged to work harder and perform better and 26% miss fewer days of work by participating in such programs. As in previous years, 51% of workers believe wellness programs are very or somewhat successful in reducing health care costs.

The index, which surveys American workers at growing businesses with 10–1,000 employees, is released by the Principal Financial Group and conducted by Harris Interactive. These findings focusing specifically on wellness attitudes and behaviors among American workers were taken from the fourth quarter 2009 Index.

“Wellness programs are clearly a win-win, especially at a time when employers and their employees are more budget conscious,” said Lee Dukes, president of Principal Wellness Company, a subsidiary of the Principal Financial Group. “Employers benefit by retaining top talent, energizing their employees and reducing the number of sick days. Employees benefit from improved physical health, reduced stress in the workplace and the financial benefits of a healthy lifestyle.”

Best bets: The survey found most workers are interested in wellness programs that improve their physical fitness, with 27% saying they would like in-office fitness facilities, 23% citing fitness center discounts, and 19% expressing interest in weight management programs.