Report: What Employees Want In Corporate Wellness Programs

Webinar

2012 Employee Survey on
Corporate Wellness Programs
What Do Employees Want In Their
Corporate Wellness Program?

Copyright © 2012 ShapeUp, Inc. The content in this document is property of ShapeUp.

Today’s Webinar Team

Rajiv Kumar, M.D.
Founder & CEO
rkumar@shapeup.com

Shawn LaVana
Vice President of Marketing
slavana@shapeup.com

Elise Meyer
Marketing Associate
emeyer@shapeup.com

Copyright © 2012 ShapeUp, Inc. The content is this document is property of ShapeUp. 2

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#empwellness


ShapeUp’s Mission Statement

Creating a healthier world by
leveraging social influence to
engage people in healthy activities


Today’s Agenda

1. Survey Background

2. Why Do Employees Participate in Wellness Programs?

3. What Wellness Programs Do Employees Want?

4. Are Employees Satisfied With Their Corporate Wellness Program?

5. How Can Employers Help Their Employees Succeed?

6. Recommendations for Employers


Survey Background


Overview of Our 2012 Employee Survey on Corporate Wellness Programs

Goals of the Survey

• Better understand how employees view their company’s wellness program

• Learn what drives employees to participate in various wellness offerings

• Find out what barriers prevent employees from engaging in wellness

• Discover how to improve the wellness program experience for employees


Survey participants represented a diverse cross-section of the population

100%
No 60

90%

80% 50-59

70%
Female
60%
No
50% 40-49
Yes

40%

30%
30-39
20%
Male
10%
23-29
Yes
0% 18-22
Computer Access at Work Age Gender Smoker


Survey participants reported widely varying health and fitness profiles
100% I prefer not to Extreme
say I am not I definitely Obesity
very active need to
improve
I have an
my health
active
Yes lifestyle but I status
80 don’t work Obese
out regularly

1-2
times a Room for
quite a lot of
60 week improvement

Overweight

40
No 3-6
times a
week
Room for a
little
20 improvement

Normal
Every No room for
improvement
day
0
Health Exercise Fitness BMI
condition level


Why Do Employees Participate
in Wellness Programs?


Wellness goals are remarkably similar for both fit and unfit employees;
fitness, weight loss, and healthy eating are the top three reported goals
Q: What are your top two personal wellness goals?

80% 80%
Fit / Healthy Respondents Unfit / Unhealthy Respondents
67%

60 60
55% 55%

43% 42%
40 39% 40

31%

21% 20
20 17%

11%
6%
3%
0 0
Improve Eat Lose Reduce Sleep Stop Lose Improve Eat Reduce Sleep Stop
general more weight stress better smoking weight general more stress better smoking
fitness healthily fitness healthily

11

Improving health is the major reason for enrollment; free programs drive
participation; co-workers are a draw for exercise & weight programs
Q: What is the top reason that you enrolled in your company’s wellness program?

n=386 n=502 n=517 n=386 n=283 n=518 n=221 n=305 n=345 n=146 n=360 n=193 n=391 n=98 n=89
100%

80

60
Mandatory
Good program
40 Convenience
Improve health
Incentives
20 Free
Signed up with
coworkers

0
Nutrition Exercise Fitness Exercise Weight HRA Personal Onsite Health Emotional Biometric Lifestyle On site Smoking Condition
program competition devices program loss health fitness content suport screening coaching physician cessation
management
program dashboard visits

12

Employees say monetary incentives would make them more likely to
participate, but non-monetary rewards and social events are also motivating
Q: To what extent n=988 n=957 n=937 n=942 n=831 n=945 n=937 n=901 n=933
100%

Somewhat more likely Same
would you be more or
less likely to participate
in a corporate health-
related program in the
80
following cases?

60

40
More likely

20

0
awards

family

coworkers

of tough workouts

outside work
Incentive

participating

competition
support
Participate with

with

Strong

Company-wide

Participate
Best

management
Non-monetary

Fun activities

friend was

Intensive program

with friends
13

Key Takeaways – Why Do Employees Participate In Wellness Programs?

• Across all health and fitness levels, most employees share three common
goals: improving physical fitness, eating healthier, and losing weight.

• Health improvement is cited as the most common reason for participating in
corporate wellness programs, but employees also say that engaging with co-
workers is a major draw for exercise and weight loss programs.

• Employees appear to strongly value free wellness programs, citing that as
a major reason for participation.

• While monetary incentives are a strong driver of participation, employees
also say that they are more likely to engage in a corporate wellness program
when they have opportunities to participate with friends and family.


What Wellness Programs Do
Employees Want?


Health assessments, fitness devices, and weight loss programs are the most
widely used offerings; employees also use preventive care offerings
Q: Which of the following health-related products or services have you used in the past year through your company?

100%

80
No

60

40

Yes
20

0
HRA

program

program

program
devices

physician visits

facility

Other
screening

competition

dashboard

coaching

cessation
content

wellness support

management
On site
preventative

Exercise

Health

Nutrition

exercise

Personal health

Lifestyle

Smoking

Condition
mental
Fitness

Weight loss

Biometric

On site fitness

Weight loss or

Emotional &
Toluna
38% 26% 27% 34% 30% 26% 29% 25% 28% 22% 22% 16% 24% 25% 14% 1%
Participation

16

Employees are most interested in opportunities for physical activity and
preventive screenings; nutrition & weight programs are also highly desired
Q: What would be your level of interest in using the following products / services as part of a corporate health-
related program? (On a scale of 1 to 7 where 1 = not interested at all and 7 = very interested)

100%

80
7

60

6
40

5

20 4
3
2

1
0
Exercise
competition

dashboard

coaching

Cessation
content

support

Management
facility

devices

screenings

program

HRA
screening

Program

program
fitness

Biometric

Fitness

Weight loss

wellness
Personal

Emotional
On-site

Exercise

On-site
physician

Nutrition

Health

Condition

Lifestyle

Smoking
% sporadic users
hose 6 or 7 70% 66% 60% 57% 55% 53% 45% 43% 37% 38% 32% 30% 23% 18% 7%
17
% regular users
hose 6 or 7
68% 60% 62% 61% 55% 54% 53% 55% 49% 46% 42% 37% 28% 28% 8%

Outside of their company wellness program, employees mostly pursued a variety of
physical activity-related opportunities

Q: What other health-related activities / products do Q: What other health-related activities / products do
you do / use outside of work? you do / use outside of work? (open-ended)

60%
n=83
100%
51%

Other
80
40
37% Swim

Wii

31% Run Swim
60
25%
Bike
20% 20%
20
40
13% 12% Walk
10%
8% 8%
20

Sports League
0
At-home Gym Workout Fitness Devices Partic- Comm- Web- Personal Other None of
fitness member- videos classes ipated ercial based Trainer the
equipment ship in an weight program above 0
organized loss
walk or program
run

18

Key Takeaways – What Wellness Programs Do Employees Want?

• Existing wellness program participation is highest for health
assessments, programs that include fitness devices, and weight
loss programs.

• Consistent with their top health and wellness goals, employees cited
fitness, nutrition, and weight loss programs as programs they
strongly desired.

• Employees also consistently identified preventive care – through
physician visits or biometric screening – as very important to them.

• Outside of the office, employees mostly pursue various physical
activity-related endeavors, with walking and sports leagues both
cited most frequently.


Are Employees Satisfied With
Their Company’s Wellness
Program?


Most employees who participate in corporate wellness programs plan to
continue to do so; 2/3 say the programs have helped them reach their goals
Q: How likely are you to continue using your Q: Has your wellness program helped you to meet
employer’s wellness program in the future? any personal health / wellness goals?

n=949
100% n=949
100%

80 No
80
Very Likely

60 60

40 40

Yes
Likely

20 20

Undecided Not Likely

0 0
All All

21

Employees get specific about why their corporate wellness programs have or
have not helped them to reach their personal health goals

Yes, my wellness program helped me meet my personal goals:

• “It gives me an incentive to keep working on my health even when I don’t feel
like it.”

• “I am able to monitor my health conditions, and it is very convenient to
participate at work.”

• “I am in better shape and have lost weight due to the fitness competition among
colleagues. I work out any way, but have pushed myself with the competition.”

No, my wellness program did not help me meet my personal goals:

• “I’m not sure what our corporate wellness program even entails.”

• “Work is so busy. I don’t have time to exercise daily.”

• “It would be really nice to have an on-site gym.”


Employees say the programs they want the most—exercise, nutrition, and
weight loss offerings—are the ones that need the most improvement

Q: Which aspects of your company’s health-related program do you think have the most room for
improvement? (Please select up to three areas for improvement)

400

331

300
262
# of Mentions

215
200 180
163 157 149
137
126
100
100
74 71 71 70
46

0
competition

dashboard

coaching

cessation
support

Health content

management
facility

program

devices

visits

HRA
screening
program
program
On-site fitness

Weight loss

Fitness

Biometric

mental wellness
Exercise

Nutrition

On site physician

Exercise

Personal health

Lifestyle

Emotional and

Condition

Smoking
% of ShapeUp
respondents 33% 25% 22% 18% 15% 16% 14% 14% 12% 9% 6% 6% 7% 5% 2%
% of Toluna
respondents
33% 29% 19% 18% 18% 16% 18% 13% 14% 12% 11% 10% 8% 11% 10%

23

Key Takeaways – Are Employees Satisfied With Their Wellness Program?

• Over 90% of employees who have utilized any aspect of their company’s wellness
program say they are likely or very likely to do so, indicating a high level of program
satisfaction.

• Two-thirds of participants say that their company’s wellness program has helped them to
reach one or more of their personal fitness goals, a surprisingly high success rate.

• For employees who say their program has helped them achieve success, factors
included the motivation provided by the program, the ease and convenience of
participating at work, and social engagement with colleagues.

• For employees who did not meet personal goals, some cited a lack of knowledge of
available programs, a shortage of time to engage while at work, and the lack of an
onsite fitness facility.

• Employees say onsite fitness facilities and programs for exercise, nutrition, and
weight loss all need improvement.


How Can Employers Help Their
Employees Succeed?


Barriers to participation include lack of time, low motivation, perception of
the program as unexciting, and inconvenient or confusing program design
Q: What are reasons you are not participating? Q: Why are you unlikely to use your employer’s
wellness program in the future?
I have met my initial goal(s) and I’m
I have met my initial goal (s)
no longer motivated
and I'm not longer motivated

n=1,743 n=122
100% Don’t know
100%
Other
Other
Confusing
Don't k now
The program does not meet any of Confus ing
P riv ac y is s ues
my wellness needs/goals Will do on my own
80 I am concerned about 80 Question company motives Privacy
Not enough information issues
confidentiality
Not enough options
I don't know enough about No one was motivated
the program offered Not enough incentives
Part Time/ineligible
60 The program is
60 Cost
disorganized/overlycomplex
Website difficulties
I feel there is a lack of
internal support for the Not helpful
program
40 40 Unsure of offering/don't
The program is like selection
inconvenient
Inconvenient
The program is not fun or
20 exciting 20

I don't have enough No time/busy
energy / motivation
/ self-discipline
0 0
Respondents Mentions
26

By far, the biggest challenge to achieving weight loss is not having enough
time or motivation to exercise
Q: When trying to lose weight, what are the two biggest challenges you face?

500

n=412
400

300
# of Mentions

n=210 n=204
200
n=161

n=119
100

0
I don't have enough I don't know what I don't have enough I don't know what I I don't know what I
time or motivation to exercise I need to do support need to do to eat need to do to lose
exercise to lose weight more healthily weight
% of
75% 38% 37% 29% 22%
respondents

27

People who don’t participate in their company’s exercise programs cite
specific factors that would make them more likely to do so
Q: What, if anything, might make you participate in your wellness program’s exercise offerings?

50 n=49
n=46

40
n=37

30 n=29
# of Mentions

n=27

n=22

20

n=14
n=13
n=10
10
n=7

0
nt

it
y

y

s

s

es

w
ee

ng
ilit

nt
ur
da

d

no
e

tiv

hi
Fr
di
ho

ou
ni
b

ot
tk
e
la

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ve

s
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sc

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N
ai

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r

'
on
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av

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g

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co
rin

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or
p
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n-

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e

be
et

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tim
O

m
em
B
e

of
m
or

e
M

ym

or
M
G

28

People who don’t participate in their company’s weight loss programs say
making the program free and finding more time at work would help
Q: What, if anything, might make you participate in your wellness program’s weight loss offerings?

30

n=25

20
# of Mentions

n=17

n=14
n=13

n=10
n=10
10 n=9
n=8 n=8 n=8

0
nt
y

es

s

ty

ity

am
e

e

n
ur
re

da

io
m
ie
e
tiv

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ho

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e

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n

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iv
ro
th

pu
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Be
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B

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M
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tim

Be

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w
or

co
M

y

M

29

Key Takeaways – How Can Employers Help Their Employees Succeed?

• Lack of time was consistently named as a major barrier to engagement.

• Lack of motivation is highly cited as a reason for not participating or not
achieving fitness and weight loss goals.

• Fun and excitement are missing from corporate wellness
programs, according to many employees.

• People who don’t participate in their company’s exercise programs say that
on-site availability and more time during the day would make them more
likely to do so.

• People who don’t participate in their company’s weight loss programs say they
would be more likely to do so if their employer offered incentives and if they
had more time during the day.


Recommendations
for Employers


Recommendations – What Wellness Programs To Offer to Employees

 Focus your corporate wellness program on your employees’ three main health
goals: exercise, nutrition, and weight loss.

 Physical activity-related offerings reign supreme as the most popular wellness
programs, so be sure to make a variety of exercise options available.

 Onsite exercise facilities are in high demand, and employees say existing
ones need improvement. Invest in office gyms, not just for large offices but
even smaller ones too.

 Employees say they value preventive screenings, indicating a desire to “know
their numbers” and identify potential future health problems. Continue to
invest in biometric screenings and preventive care options.

 Opportunities to engage with co-workers are cherished, so make sure to
promote programs that are group-facilitated or team-based.


Recommendations – How To Drive Higher Employee Engagement

 Employees say they most want to improve their health, so continue to use this
as the main call to action when marketing wellness programs to them.

 Focus on making wellness program communications bolder and simpler, since
many employees say they don’t know what is offered and that programs
appear complicated.

 Employees frequently cite fitness tracking devices as a popular program
feature, so consider investing in these tools as incentives for enrollment.

 Help employees to increase their motivation to engage through the use of
financial incentives, competitions, and public recognition.

 Balance monetary incentives with social incentives, as employees say both
are powerful drivers of engagement.


Recommendations – How To Help Employees Reach Their Goals

 Lack of time is a major barrier to health improvement, so promote exercise
breaks and help employees to prioritize healthy activities during the day.

 Find ways to build in more exercise opportunities at work, such as organizing
walking groups, designing walking trails, and hosting sports tournaments.

 Seek more effective and robust exercise, nutrition, and weight loss programs
– employees say those that are already available have room for improvement.

 Try to offer as many programs as possible free-of-charge, especially weight
loss programs, and more employees will take advantage of the programming.

 Find ways to add fun and excitement to your wellness program through
games, technology, competitions, prizes, edgier marketing, and humor.


Report: What Employees Want In Corporate Wellness Programs

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