Jan 10, 2024
Wellness programs lower employers' health care costs, reduce employee stress and burnout, and improve employee retention and productivity.
In a 2023 survey, nearly half of employees said an employer that offers wellness benefits and programs is more attractive than other employers. In fact, nearly 85% of employees who believe their well-being is supported by their employer intend to remain at their place of work, and employers that offer wellness programs have seen a 14-19% reduction in employee absenteeism.
But while many employers invest in the well-being of their workforce by offering benefits and programs that support employees’ financial, mental, social and physical health, they may be wondering how they can get employees to utilize those benefits.
Understanding what may be driving low engagement with wellness benefits and then finding creative ways to improve that engagement is critical for maximizing investments in employees’ health and well-being. Although every workforce is different, reasons for low employee engagement may include:
- Lack of awareness – sometimes the reason behind employee disengagement with their wellness benefits is as simple as not knowing what is available;
- Unperceived value – if an employee doesn’t understand the value of utilizing their voluntary benefits, especially if they believe there is a cost to participate, they may not make the effort to engage with those offerings; and/or
- Privacy fears – employees may worry that information they share or generate when participating in wellness programs about their overall health and well-being will be shared with their employer.
Fortunately, there are several tactics employers can take to boost employee engagement, starting with communication.
Developing a communication strategy to educate employees about the wellness benefits available and how to access them is critical. It’s also important that these communications are deployed throughout the year, not just during open enrollment.
An effective communication plan also helps address employees’ concerns or barriers to participation, such as reassuring employees that their health information will be kept private and not shared with their employer.
Another tactic that can improve engagement with wellness benefits is to build an incentive component into the program. In fact, rewarding employees for participating in certain wellness activities, like biometric screenings and wellness visits, has been shown to increase participation by up to 73%.
For instance, with UnitedHealthcare Rewards, eligible members can earn dollars for completing tasks like taking a health survey, getting an annual checkup, for completing activities and more. These activities can also be personalized based on employee preference and health journey goals.
And those incentive dollars may be used toward additional wellness offerings, such as a subscription to One Pass Select™. One Pass Select is a flexible fitness membership that gives employees access to a nationwide network of fitness locations. A 2023 One Pass Select utilization report showed that 76% of employees who signed up for the program were actively engaged.
For more information about how UnitedHealthcare's wellness programs can help boost employee wellness and employee engagement, contact your Amwins Connect Regional Sales Manager today.
