Number of firms offering health and wellness programs rising, employers cite retention factor: study
More companies in Canada are adopting health and wellness programs and they are becoming a popular tool in retaining employees, according to a new study.
When employers were asked what type of retention strategies they used in their organizations, 56.8 per cent said flex time and 42.6 per cent said employee wellness programs were key in their organizations.
Susan Bowyer, a consultant with Mercer Human Resource Consulting, the authors of the study, said the rising number of organizations offering wellness means employers are getting the message.
“Employers are recognizing that health and wellness programs can have an impact on employee morale,” said Bowyer.
Two years ago, 34 per cent of companies surveyed offered HR plans such as employee wellness programs and 16.3 per cent offered physical fitness programs. In 2003, 40.3 per cent of participating organizations offered employee wellness programs while 30.6 per cent offered a physical fitness program. The survey also showed that nearly 40 per cent of respondents subsidize fitness memberships for their employees and almost 30 per cent have an on-site fitness facility, up 13 per cent and five per cent respectively from 2001.
The study, 2003 Policies and Practices Survey, represents data submitted by 206 organizations employing about 650,000 workers across Canada. The survey is based on data collected as of Jan. 1, 2003.
When employers were asked what type of retention strategies they used in their organizations, 56.8 per cent said flex time and 42.6 per cent said employee wellness programs were key in their organizations.
Susan Bowyer, a consultant with Mercer Human Resource Consulting, the authors of the study, said the rising number of organizations offering wellness means employers are getting the message.
“Employers are recognizing that health and wellness programs can have an impact on employee morale,” said Bowyer.
Two years ago, 34 per cent of companies surveyed offered HR plans such as employee wellness programs and 16.3 per cent offered physical fitness programs. In 2003, 40.3 per cent of participating organizations offered employee wellness programs while 30.6 per cent offered a physical fitness program. The survey also showed that nearly 40 per cent of respondents subsidize fitness memberships for their employees and almost 30 per cent have an on-site fitness facility, up 13 per cent and five per cent respectively from 2001.
The study, 2003 Policies and Practices Survey, represents data submitted by 206 organizations employing about 650,000 workers across Canada. The survey is based on data collected as of Jan. 1, 2003.
