Most Workers Consider Health and Wellness Offerings When Choosing a Job

Workers are looking to their employers for some help in meeting their health and wellness goals, new research from staffing firm OfficeTeam suggests.

Seventy-three percent of professionals surveyed said a company's health and wellness offerings influence their decision to work there.

Employees place the greatest weight on wellness incentives that reward healthy behavior (26 percent) and fitness facilities or programs (23 percent).

Fortunately, these are the resources most commonly offered by organizations (43 percent and 41 percent, respectively). Twenty percent of companies don't have any health and wellness options.

The health and wellness offerings valued most by workers, and what's offered at companies:

• Wellness incentives (offering prizes for engaging in healthy behavior)
• Access to fitness facilities or programs
• Healthy food options
• Ergonomic evaluations and equipment
• Stress management resources
• On-site vaccinations or health screenings

Additional findings:

Professionals ages 18 to 34 (87 percent) most often said health and wellness offerings impact their decision to work at an organization, compared to those ages 35 to 54 (70 percent) and 55 and older (44 percent). Seventy-nine percent of male employees reported the same, versus 65 percent of women.

Larger companies (500 or more employees) are more likely to have health and wellness programs than smaller ones (20-499 employees).