Statistics on Wellness Programs in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know
Workplace wellness has evolved from "perks" like gym memberships to a much broader, more holistic approach. The conversation around corporate wellness has finally expanded beyond physical fitness to encompass a more comprehensive understanding of wellness.
Gallup studied well-being in more than 98% of the world's population, uncovering five common elements that people need to thrive:
Career Wellbeing: You like what you do every day.
Social Wellbeing: You have meaningful friendships in your life.
Financial Wellbeing: You manage your money well.
Physical Wellbeing: You have the energy to get things done.
Community Wellbeing: You like where you live.
It’s been estimated that we spend over one-third of our lives working, making career well-being one of the most significant elements of overall well-being. Yet, work often increases stress levels and lowers quality of life. This reality presents a challenge for both employees and employers.
The objective of workplace wellness programs is to foster healthier lifestyles among employees, leading to reductions in healthcare costs, less absenteeism, increases in productivity, and greater employee engagement. They’re about giving people the space to be healthy and fulfilled at work and beyond.
But, truthfully, many companies still aren’t getting it right.
Let’s look at several noteworthy corporate wellness statistics that emphasize the importance of employee wellness programs.
Corporate Wellness Statistics: Do Workplace Wellness Programs Work?
Only about half of U.S. companies offer wellness programs, which is a real shame. The following corporate wellness statistics highlight both the benefits of employee well-being and the downsides of not having programs in place to support them.
The Hidden Costs of Overlooking Employee Wellness
74% of American workers are moderately or highly concerned about their workplace well-being (EBRI, 2023). Let that sink in: 3 in 4 employees feel unsettled about their work well-being. We’re not just talking about the occasional stressful day; these are ongoing concerns around mental health, physical wellness, financial well-being, etc.
58% of employees consider themselves to be “struggling” (Gallup, 2024). That’s well over half of the global workforce. This employee wellness statistic communicates something important: most people are operating in survival mode at work. They’re not feeling supported enough to really thrive, and that should raise a red flag for leaders.
23% of employees are engaged at work (Gallup, 2024). When people are disengaged, they’re checked out—emotionally and mentally. According to Gallup, employee engagement is the single biggest driver of career well-being. There’s a significant opportunity here to reengage the other three-quarters of the workforce to produce better business outcomes.
24% of U.S. employees feel that their employer supports their well-being (SHRM, 2021). This statistic is heartbreaking. However, nearly half of HR leaders say their company does support employee well-being. As you can see, there’s a disconnect between how employees feel and how companies perceive they care for their workforce. This presents a golden opportunity for employers to move from perception to reality with an intentional corporate wellness program.
Without wellness programs at work, statistics show that employees are more absent, disengaged, stressed, and anxious. Now, let’s take a look at statistics on wellness programs in the workplace that demonstrate the benefits of employee wellness programs.
The Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs
For every $1 spent on employee wellness, companies see a 47% return on investment (Avalere Health, 2022). Not only is it the right thing to do for your people, but investing in employee wellness pays off. The analysis by Avalere Health found that wellness programs paired with employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) lower direct medical costs, increase productivity, decrease absenteeism, reduce turnover, etc., all contributing to the overall ROI.
84% of employers reported higher employee productivity and performance due to wellness plans (Zippia, 2023). When people have access to essential wellness resources, they’re less distracted by how bad or sick they’re feeling at work and more focused on completing the tasks at hand. Supporting employee well-being means empowering them to feel and perform their best.
72% of companies saw reduced healthcare costs after implementing a wellness program (Zippia, 2023). When employees are healthy, they’re less absent and more productive, reducing healthcare costs for employers. Wellness programs aren’t just about cutting costs; they aim to support employee well-being and prevent health issues before they spiral into bigger, more chronic problems for individuals and employers.
Wellness programs that include both mental and physical wellness resources lead to (Bank of America, 2022):
50% increase in employee productivity. When employees have access to a range of wellness resources, they’re better equipped to stay focused, energized, and resilient in and outside of work.
43% reduction in employee stress. With stress accounting for 75%-90% of all doctor visits, a wellness program that reduces stress will increase presenteeism, productivity, and engagement.
41% boost in employee morale. A workplace where morale is high translates to higher motivation, teams collaborating more effectively, and employees staying loyal to the company.
To summarize these health and wellness programs in the workplace statistics, investing in employee wellness is a smart business decision that leads to healthier, happier, more productive workplaces.
ProMotion Corporate Wellness Designs Corporate Wellness Programs that Work
While there are plenty of workplace wellness companies to partner with, ProMotion Corporate Wellness designs corporate wellness programs that work. Our services are distinct because we take a holistic approach to wellness, developing programs that encompass all facets of employee well-being.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to corporate wellness programs. Every company has a unique culture and workforce to consider before implementing a corporate wellness program.
We believe health is wealth, and we’ve seen it play out time and time again. We help companies transform employee experience and performance with corporate wellness programs that deliver the 5 ROIs by design:
Talent Attraction
Retention
Productivity
Mental Health
Culture/Morale
Schedule your free consultation to learn more about how we can develop a custom corporate wellness program that produces measurable results for your business and its employees.
