According to a survey released this week by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), employers are using an increasing amount of Health and Wellness programs and benefits as both a mechanism to raise employee morale and manage rising health care costs in a slowly recovering economy. Raising employee morale and keeping employees healthy through professional development, and health and wellness programs is a cost effective investment for employees. These benefits provide an ROI in raised retention rates, productivity, and job satisfaction, as well as lower employer health care costs. The survey revealed that employers offering development opportunities such as life-coaching jumped from 33% in 2008 to 45% in 2012, and providing small rewards, such as gift cards, for completing health and wellness programs increased from 23% in 2008 to 35% in 2012. These significant increases prove this is a growing trend and the value of these rewards continues to be successful.
For more information on the SHRM survey and how employee benefit programs help manage employer costs check out this MarketWatch Release.