Dive Brief:

• Springbuk, an intelligence health firm, released a survey showing that 35% of employers use wearable devices in their wellness programs, a 10% increase since 2015.
• The Employer Guide to Wearables 2.0 showed that Fitbit, Garmin and Samsung devices were the most compatible with employer wellness programs. The results came from a four-month field test that reviewed 21 devices.
• The study also reviewed each device’s user community, reporting capability to employers and employees’ overall experience.

Dive Insight:

Wearables in the 21st century are like microwave ovens of the 1970s; once they catch on with the public, there’s no turning back. The percentage of employers using wearables will likely exceed well beyond 35% in the next few years as they catch on with the popular market and various brands keep making them.

Besides helping employees get and stay physically fit, wearables also are designed to lower stress for mental well-being. Some insurance companies have begun opting for wearables as part of their wellness programs, including Apple Watch for Aetna and Fitbit for UnitedHealthcare. Both adoptions are part of wellness incentive programs to encourage employees to track their own health and reach their goals.

Employees are already adopting such technologies on their own, making wearable integration easier than other potential programs. But as always, introducing wellness tech must be based on a foundation of trust between employee and employer to ensure no employee assumes the worst.