Dive Brief:
- Wellness Workdays, which provides corporate wellness programs, has introduced a Best Wellness Employer certification program in collaboration with Harvard Medical School. The program recognizes employers' accomplishments in improving employees' health and well-being. The program also is constructed to help advance worksite wellness by providing research and data about wellness program practices and results.
- Specialists from Wellness Workdays, Harvard Medical School and other organizations developed evaluation standards for setting employers' eligibility requirements. Wellness programs are measured on assessment, strategy, implementation and evaluation. Certification has a three-tiered merit system, with gold, silver and bronze recognition.
- Employers can complete the 2018 certificate assessments on the Best Wellness Employers website and must submit applications by Feb. 1 to be profiled at Wellness Workdays' Emerging Trends in Wellness Conference in April 2018.
Dive Insight:
Employers are investing more time, effort and resources in wellness programs for a healthier, more productive workforce. When functioning at the highest level, wellness programs can make organizations more competitive in recruiting and retention advantages, raise productivity, lower absenteeism, boost employee engagement and lower healthcare costs.
The challenge for employers is operating wellness programs that meet employees' needs. A Willis Towers Watson survey found that 61% of employees said their organization's wellness program doesn't meet their needs. Clearly, merely offering wellness programs isn't enough to satisfy workers. Programs must address their greatest needs to truly work — and sometimes that may mean literally bringing the wellness program to the office.
Onsite clinics have grown in popularity, as have concierge services that give employees a single access point for their benefits. Forward-thinking employers have included benefits that help with managing back pain, financial well-being, type 2 diabetes control and emotional well-being, among their offerings.