Wellness, in no surprise, is on the rise. A survey of employers released yesterday by OptumHealth shows 40% of respondents anticipate that their company’s wellness budget will increase in the near future, up from 30% from the group’s 2011 survey.
The findings showed the top two reasons for wellness programs are promoting a healthier and more productive workforce and reducing health care costs. Survey results also include employer thoughts on wellness program drivers, incentives, success metrics and, new this year, how changes in the workplace environment can drive healthy behaviors. Beena Thomas, vice president of OptumHealth Care Solutions, presented the outcomes in a Web seminar available to industry professionals. Responses were gathered during the last two weeks of December 2012 and included more than 500 employers.
