Holistic Workplace Wellness

A new study indicates that people who participate in a community garden reap a host of benefits that go beyond healthy eating. After one year, almost all of the participants reported eating more fruits and vegetables, feeling less stressed, and being more active.

Even companies with robust and engaging wellness programs can still face one particularly challenging problem on the path to high engagement: how to get men to participate.

A recent study found that just two weeks of sedentary behavior resulted in clear negative changes to the body. This demonstrates that the “one and done” approach to physical activity in corporate wellness programs may not be enough to really impact health.

A recent poll reveals that only 52% of American adults plan to get the flu vaccine this year. Companies should look to boost this number, as flu vaccines are one of the few wellness program with a direct return on investment for companies.

Certain occupations have up to three times higher risk of developing diabetes. This has significant implications for employers globally, especially ones in the U.S., where 30.3 million adults have type 2 diabetes and another 84.1 million have prediabetes.

CMA announced that it is beginning a pilot program for state-based health-contingent wellness programs. With the influx of new participants in this pilot program, employers in those states will likely feel pressure to offer wellness programs as a benefit.

A survey revealed that 77% of employers believe that offering “innovative” health benefits to employees is a key factor in competing for workers in a tight job market.

The CDC revealed that possible vaping-related respiratory illnesses have more than doubled, rising to 450 possible cases in 33 states. Five suspected vaping-related deaths have also been reported. Employers should consider the rise in e-cigarettes when thinking about smoking cessation and employee wellness.

A recent Optum study reveals that more than twice as many employers are looking to increase their investments in employee health and wellness. This suggests that wellness programs are quickly becoming a differentiator in a competitive employment market.