Dive Brief:

• A Thomsons Online Benefits survey found that 64% of American workers think their workplace has a negative effect on their well-being. Survey respondents also said that they want employers' support for their broader needs beyond salary and retirement plans, such as buying a home or financial management.
• Other findings from the "Global Employee Benefits Watch 2017/18" survey show that after saving for retirement, respondents cited work-life balance as their priority. Also, 63% said one of their life's goals was getting fit and staying healthy, but only 30% said their employer was helping that effort through a benefits program.  According to Thomas, organizations that update their benefits programs are 60% more likely to offer wellbeing initiatives.
• Thomas says that organizations are changing their benefits strategies, which it says is driven by such statistics as the rising obesity epidemic (1 in 3 U.S. adults are obese) as well as employees' refusal to take allotted vacation time.

Dive Insight:

Wellness programs can increase engagement, especially when they address employees' most pressing needs. A recent Virgin Pulse survey found that 85% of employers said their wellness program has bolstered employee engagement, recruitment, retention and company culture.

Other studies show that retention is high when employers make workers' physical and emotional well-being a priority. Employees have added components to their wellness programs to address such issues as emotional health, financial management (a major stressor for workers) controlling back pain, student debt, sleep deprivation and even office design.