Dive Brief:
- Teleworkers who are not part of a company wellness program are more likely to engage in physical activities and other wellness options on their own when compared to office-based workers, according to a recent survey.
- The survey from Flex+Strategy Group/Work+Life Fit, Inc, which interviewed 617 full-time employed adults by telephone, also found that only 33% said they participate in a workplace wellness or well-being programs, with those aged 30 or older more likely to do so than their millennial colleagues.
- Also, 20% said even though their company provides a wellness program, they do not participate, and 25% said a wellness/well-being program is not available at their workplace. On the flip side, nearly 20% noted that despite not participating in a corporate wellness program, they pursue wellness opportunities on their own, with teleworkers (24%) taking more initiative than those working in an office (17%).
Dive Insight:
Cali Williams Yost, CEO at the Flex+Strategy Group, says many organizations divide wellness, work-life flexibility and other employee strategies into separate silos, rather than linking them in a holistic approach that benefits business and employee performance. Despite employers investing millions of dollars to promote employee health, almost half of the U.S. workplace does not budge.
96% of employees reported having some type of flexibility. However, the data indicated training and guidance to help use and manage work life flexibility significantly increases employee wellness participation. While just under half (47%) noted they received such training, those who did were significantly more likely (43%) to say they participate in corporate wellness programs than those who did not receive training (24%).
Yost explained that with guidance on how to use work-life flexibility, these employees have learned how to fit work and other priorities, including exercise and doctor's visits, into their lives. That training offers employers a great chance to educate employees about the various supports and rewards available through workplace wellness programs, she explained.