More Employers to Offer Workers Financial Incentives for Health...(the health of their workersas the new gr...),Health

The survey found that more companies are planning to connect employee health to company goals. Almost one-third of employers (29 percent) currently link health and productivity programs to their broader initiatives, or plan to in 2008. Another 26 percent plan to do so in 2009. Employers are also implementing various programs to engage employees in managing their own health.

Companies Aim to Encourage Healthy Behaviors

Offer Now or in 2008 Plan to Implement

in 2009

Provide tools that encourage

safety and wellness 85 % 7 %

Promote emotional health 82 % 7 %

Educate employees on safety

at work 63 % 9 %

Involve senior management in

promoting health and productivity 52 % 16 %

Offer economic incentives 46 % 26 %

Educate medical providers on work

environment and health initiatives 33 % 7 %

Connect wellness programs to broader

initiatives 29 % 26 %

Integrate health programs with paid

leave 26 % 12 %

Yet, while both companies and their workers say that a healthy workforce is a priority, accountability remains low. Although 79 percent of companies think employees should be held accountable for improving and maintaining their own health, only 4 percent actually are taking action on this issue. Similarly, 68 percent believe that managers should be responsible for workforce productivity, yet only 13 percent are holding managers
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