An increasing number of United States employers intend to focus on developing a workplace culture that supports employee well-being by 2018. According to the Willis Towers Watson Stayin@Work Survey, more employers are adopting a broader view of workforce health to include not just physical health but also emotional, mental and financial well-being. For example, of the 487 U.S. employers surveyed about their health and productivity strategies, 47% reported including financial well-being in their workforce well-being strategy today, with 80% expecting to include it by 2018.
Employers seeking to build a healthy workplace culture report that they are taking steps including:
- Obtaining buy-in from senior leadership;
- Creating a supportive environment by adding healthy foods, walking paths and identifying key influencers to champion healthy behaviors at work;
- Asking employees to consider what is missing from their own personal well-being experience and what they need to succeed at work; and
- Using technology to make online health improvement tools available to employees.
In explaining their increased commitment to developing a healthy work environment, survey respondents explained that unaddressed health issues directly affect employee performance and the organization's bottom line. In short, it makes good business sense, both in terms of health benefit costs and employee's health and happiness, to commit to comprehensive well-being initiatives in the coming years. Read more.