BOSTON, MA and WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - September 1, 2009) - America's workers will take
greater responsibility for their health and participate in corporate
wellness programs if there is a financial incentive, according to a survey
released today by
Virgin
HealthMiles, a leading provider of health and productivity programs.
Eighty nine percent of the 2,700 U.S. employees surveyed said financial
rewards (e.g., cash, healthcare premium discounts) are important motivators
for participating in wellness programs. Corporations today are on the
front line of the healthcare issue, footing the bill for increased
healthcare costs. These survey results underscore the private sector's
opportunity to lead healthcare reform by encouraging healthy behaviors that
lessen the demand on the nation's healthcare system and decrease costs.
The survey was released to mark the start of National Employee Wellness
Month, September 2009. This initiative, sponsored by Virgin HealthMiles
and the national not-for-profit health coalition, the
Strategies to Overcome and
Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, spotlights the critical role employers
play in supporting healthy employee behaviors and preventing the onset of
chronic conditions that are the primary drivers of our nation's soaring
healthcare costs. In total, more than 60 companies across the United
States and more than 17,000 of their employees are participating in the
inaugural year of this important national campaign.
"Promoting wellness in the workplace makes tremendous sense because the
majority of healthcare costs impacting employers and employees are due to
preventable chronic diseases," said Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles.
"Forward-thinking employers know they can't afford to wait for reform to
happen on the federal level -- they need to take action to control rising
healthcare costs before they drain the lifeblood of American business.
Through National Employee Wellness Month and this survey of U.S. employees
and human resources managers, we hope to educate corporations and inspire
employees to make simple lifestyle changes to improve their health. The
private sector has a unique opportunity to create a sustainable solution to
our nation's healthcare woes, and the time to act is now."
Workplace Wellness Viewed as Key to Healthcare Cost Containment
Eighty-five percent of surveyed employers reported the need to control
rising healthcare costs was key to their decision to implement a wellness
program. The survey results closely follow the results of a July 2009
survey conducted by The Society of Human Resource Management. While 60
percent of human resources professionals report that the economic downturn
has had an impact on benefits offerings, wellness and prevention is one
area where there is an expected increase.
"The workplace is one important environment that could be better leveraged
to fight obesity," said Christine Ferguson, director of the STOP Obesity
Alliance and Associate Research Professor, The George Washington University
School of Public Health and Health Services. "We are proud to support
National Employee Wellness Month as a vehicle for educating businesses
across the country about the value of a healthier and more productive
workforce."
Employees Value Wellness Programs that Get Them Moving as a Community
Seventy-six percent of respondents agreed that community and social
elements of their wellness program were influential in helping them stay
committed to their fitness routines. This echoes a study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine, which demonstrated the connection between
one's social ties and obesity/health. Most Americans spend a third of
their weekdays at work, often spending more waking hours with colleagues
than friends and family. If a workplace is focused as a community on
becoming more active and healthy, it is likely more employees will be
inspired to participate in a wellness initiative than they would on their
own.
Survey respondents were also asked what workplace wellness programs they
were likely to participate in if offered by their employer. The highest
percentage of respondents indicated they were "Very Likely" to participate
in programs designed to increase daily physical activity (70 percent).
Rewards, Measurable Results, Sustainable Behavior Key to Wellness Program
Success
When asked about the factors contributing to the success of their wellness
programs:
-- 80 percent of human resources management pointed to the value of
financial incentives integrated into the program, and
-- 70 percent said measurement and reporting of wellness program
effectiveness is critical.
The in-house survey was conducted August 1-14, 2009, via email and was
completed by more than 50 Virgin HealthMiles clients and over 2,700
members. An executive summary of the survey results and more information
on National Employee Wellness Month can be found at:
www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com.
About National Employee Wellness Month
National Employee Wellness Month (
www.nationalemployeewellnessmonth.com) is
an annual initiative held in September that highlights the importance of
creating healthier and more physically active communities in the workplace,
and the critical role a proactive approach towards wellness plays in
reducing national healthcare costs. This initiative provides a vehicle for
educating both employers and employees about the benefits of preventative
health within the workplace, and is a rallying call in support of increased
wellness awareness.
About Virgin HealthMiles and the STOP Obesity Alliance
Virgin HealthMiles (
www.virginhealthmiles.com) is an industry leading
provider of employee health and activity programs that pay people to get
active. Its award-winning, Pay-for-Prevention™ approach, based on
physical activity and healthy lifestyle change, attracts an average of 40%
of employees who participate in the program regularly, which helps
organizations reduce medical costs and improve employee productivity and
satisfaction.
The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance
(
www.stopobesityalliance.org) is a collaboration of consumer, provider,
government, labor, business, health insurers and quality-of-care
organizations united to drive innovative and practical strategies that
combat obesity. The Alliance receives funding from its sponsors,
sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC., founding sponsor, and Amylin Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., supporting sponsor.
Contact Information: MEDIA CONTACT:
Marian Hughes
Tier One Partners
708-246-0083
