25 fascinating workplace wellness statistics
Engagement 4 minute read

25 fascinating workplace wellness statistics

Rise | October 5, 2017

Organizations would do well to make workplace wellness an integral part of their company culture.

Policies that promote the practice of healthy lifestyles and behaviours during and after office hours has positive effects on both your employees' health and your company's health. By investing in workplace wellness within your workforce, your staff will be enabled to be their best selves and to produce their best work.

Workplace wellness encompasses a variety of comprehensive and customizable programs and initiatives. It can include the traditional offerings of fitness passes and professional development programs, along with new perks such as standing desks and pet-friendly workspaces.

Health and wellness initiatives in the workplace are proven to boost overall engagement and productivity. The collected findings reveal the benefits of committing to corporate wellness programs. The results speak for themselves, showing significant impacts upon not only the employee journey, but on business profitability as well.

Read on to discover 23 revealing statistics on emerging trends and beneficial outcomes of prioritizing healthy initiatives in your workplace.

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Workplace Wellness Statistics

  1. 61% of employees are burned out on the job. (CareerBuilder)
  2. The top five stress symptoms causing missed work days are constant fatigue (29%); sleeplessness (26%); aches and pains (24%); high anxiety (23%) and weight gain (18%). (CareerBuilder)
  3. Stress-related absences cost Canadian employers about $3.5 billion each year. (Workplace Safety & Prevention Services)
  4. Six in ten Canadians believe “their employer has some responsibility in ensuring their good health." (Buffett National Wellness Survey)
  5. 53% of organizations want to create a culture that promotes health and wellness. Currently, 60% of organizations offer wellness programs. (SHRM)
  6. The most common wellness benefit is providing resources and information (71% of companies), and 62% give wellness tips or information at least quarterly in the form of a newsletter, e-mail, column, or tweets. (SHRM)
  7. The number of employees with standing desks had a great increase over the past five years, growing more than threefold from 13% in 2013 to 44% in 2017. (SHRM)
  8. Other wellness benefits encouraging employees to get up from their desks and move more often are providing fitness tracking bands (8%) and organizing fitness competitions/challenges (28%). (SHRM)
  9. 48% of employees say that investing in professional development is one of the highest-impact strategies to combatting stress that their company can do. (Udemy)
  10. 70% of employers have improved their physical environments to encourage healthy behaviours, including adding healthy foods to cafeteria menus, walking paths, and campus bike-sharing programs. (Willis Towers Watson)
  11. 80% of employees in pet-friendly workplaces say having pets nearby while they work makes them feel “happy, relaxed and sociable” (Purina)
  12. 84% of companies say they now have financial security programs — such as access to budgeting resources, debt management tools, or student loan counselling — as part of their well-being strategies. (Fidelity)
  13. 77% would work out more if their employer had a gym they could use during work hours. (Treadmill Reviews)
  14. 53% of employees would participate in an exercise program through their workplace to help lower their health insurance cost. (Aflac)
  15. 61% of employees agree that they’ve made healthier lifestyle choices because of their company’s wellness program. (Aflac)
  16. 38% of wellness program participants said it helped them take fewer sick days. (HealthMine)
  17. 62% of workplace wellness program participants said it helped them lower their healthcare costs. (HealthMine)
  18. Employees that participate in workplace wellness programs are more satisfied in their jobs (70%) than those who don’t participate in their companies’ programs. (Aflac)
  19. 91% of workers at companies led by leaders that support well-being efforts say they feel motivated to do their best at their jobs. (American Psychological Association)
  20. 78% of the businesses say employee well-being is a critical part of their business plans. (Virgin Pulse)
  21. Organizations with highly effective health and productivity programs report 11% higher revenue per employee, 1.8 fewer days absent per employee per year, and 28% greater shareholder returns. (Buffett National Wellness Survey)
  22. Of employers offering wellness programs, 67% reported increased employee satisfaction, 66% reported increased productivity, 63% reported increased financial sustainability and growth, and 50% reported decreased absenteeism. (IFEBP)
  23. 54% of benefits professionals cite employee morale as their most improved metric from implementing wellness programs. (HUB)
  24. 74% of employers view well-being as an important to employees and a useful tool for recruiting and retaining staff. (Xerox)
  25. 89% of workers at companies that support well-being efforts are more likely to recommend their company as a good place to work. (American Psychological Association)

Looking for more articles on workplace wellness? Check out one of these blog posts:

3 Examples of Companies Who Prioritize Wellness in the Workplace

10 Great Examples of Workplace Wellness Programs

8 Wellness Activities to Incorporate Into Your Corporate Health Program

Free Ebook: How to Design an Effective Employee Wellness Program Find out how investing in your team’s health and wellness can do wonders for motivation and productivity. Download my copy →

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