- Three-year study finds that wellness programs have no significant effect on objective measures of employee health
- Programs are nevertheless popular and result in heightened awareness of health issues, as well as a greater rate of self-reported healthy behaviors
- Other research suggests that wellness programs directed at employees with chronic issues can have a greater impact
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Employees show strong engagement and appreciation when employers offer wellness programs aimed at improving their health. However, recent research suggests that the programs do little to objectively improve employee health.
Researchers at the University of Chicago and Harvard Medical School conducted a three-year study of the effectiveness of the programs. Consistent with findings from the first and second years of the study, the researchers found that wellness programs have no significant effect on clinical health care measures or areas like health care spending, absenteeism, or job performance.
- The study looked at 4,000 low- and middle-income employees at BJ’s Wholesale Club, which offers programs related to matters like nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction
- Results were compared to a control group of nearly 29,000 employees at other stores
- Despite their lack of impact on clinical measures, wellness programs resulted in heightened awareness of health issues and a higher rate of self-reporting of healthy behaviors
- Other research suggests that wellness programs can be more effective when directed at employees with chronic conditions
