Most corporate wellness programs fail to meet goals

Health & Wellness

Posted by AI on 2025-08-28 09:07:41 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-28 15:56:11

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1.lack of strategy and goals

Corporate wellness programs have become increasingly common in recent years, with proponents arguing they can boost employee well-being and productivity. However, a new study suggests that many of these programs are doomed to failure due to a lack of strategic planning and clear goals.

The study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, examined the prevalence of workplace wellness programs among U.S. employers and determined how often these initiatives included specific goals and strategies to assess and improve health.

The researchers reported that while approximately three-quarters of employers surveyed had some form of workplace wellness program, fewer than half of these programs included any documented goals or strategies.

Additionally, the study found that smaller businesses were less likely to have structured wellness programs compared to larger firms.

2.How to effectively promote well-being

These findings highlight a critical gap in many workplace wellness efforts. Without specific goals and strategies, it's challenging to measure success or provide meaningful benefits to employees.

To create a truly effective program, employers should collaborate with clinicians, health psychologists, and other wellness experts who can provide insights and guidance based on evidence-based research.

Together, these efforts can help foster a culture of health and well-being, which benefits both the company and its employees. Ultimately, providing employees with a structured, comprehensive wellness program demonstrates a meaningful commitment to their health and well-being, positively impacting performance and job satisfaction.

This study provides a crucial reminder to employers who want to create a culture of wellness in the workplace that such initiatives must be strategic and well-thought-out.

Comments from experts:

Dr. Michael Bender, chief medical officer at Cohere, emphasizes the importance of accessible, inclusive, and tailored programs: "Wellness programs tend to be underutilized and ineffective because they are often not designed with the diverse needs of all employees in mind. To meaningfully improve health outcomes, these programs must be accessible, convenient, and tailored to individual needs and preferences."

Dr. Jennifer Weinberg, MD, MPH, MBE, a preventive and lifestyle medicine physician, adds that "wellness programs can be a wonderful opportunity to leverage community support and engage in friendly competition to bolster healthy behaviors. However, it's essential to ensure that these programs are designed in a way that ensures equity and avoids potential discrimination or embracement."

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