North American companies are broadening their benefits beyond health care to cover their workers' physical, financial and mental well-being, according to a new survey.
Among firms with 20 or more employees, 74% said they offer mental wellness programs, 65% said they offer financial wellness programs and 63% said they offer physical wellness programs, according to a survey by the staffing firm Robert Half.
Fifty-one percent of the companies said they cover some of the cost of the physical and financial wellness programs, while 64% covered part of the mental health programs.
Forty-three percent of the firms said they expect to increase the dollar amount they devote to these programs, 41% plan to increase the frequency of the programs, and 33% are planning new offerings, the survey said.
"More and more companies are focused on all aspects of well-being in their recruitment and retention efforts," Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half, said in a prepared statement. "Offering benefits like health insurance is just one piece of the puzzle. Resources like stress management and retirement planning seminars help workers balance professional and personal priorities."
These were among the other survey findings:
• Workers most valued access to fitness facilities or programs (24%), ergonomic evaluations and equipment (22%) and incentives for engaging in healthy behavior (18%).
• The most common perks offered by companies are flexible work schedules or telecommuting options (50%), paid parental leave (47%) and employee discounts (42%).
• Firms with 250 or more employees are more likely than smaller firms to have mental and financial wellness benefits and cover at least some of the costs of these programs.
The survey included responses from more than 1,000 HR managers at companies with 20 or more employees and more than 2,000 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in offices in North America.