67% plan to expand employee wellbeing programmes

More than two-thirds (67%) of US employer respondents plan to expand their employee wellbeing programmes, according to research by Fidelity Investments and US non-profit organisation the National Business Group on Health.

The survey of 129 US employers also found that 87% of respondents offer employees access to emotional or mental wellbeing programmes.

The research also found:

  • More than half (54%) of respondents run stress management programmes for staff, and a further 12% intend to introduce this offering in 2017.
  • More than a quarter (27%) offer resilience training, while an additional 20% of respondents plan to include resilience training in their health and wellbeing programmes next year.
  • 76% of respondents provide financial health programmes for employees.
  • Around three-quarter (73%) of respondents offer staff the opportunity to attend on-site financial seminars, and 59% provide access to a financial coach.
  • 13% of respondents offer student loan repayment assistance, and a further 21% are considering introducing this in the future.

Brian Marcotte, chief executive officer and president of National Business Group on Health, said: “Social factors and one’s environment play an important role in employee engagement and in one’s view of their overall wellbeing.

“We are seeing more organisations step up their efforts to integrate financial and emotional wellbeing, social connectedness and job satisfaction with their more traditional efforts to support physical health.”