There is increasing evidence that improving the health of employees has a direct effect on not only health care costs but also workplace productivity. Employers of all sizes are utilizing a variety of techniques to engage their employees in health and wellness initiatives. In this session, we will review newly released employee focus group research conducted by a leading employer coalition. Participants will gain insight and direction on how to effectively and efficiently design their health benefits, wellness programs, incentive strategies and benefits communications. Focus group research also included the perceptions of key employee influencers – spouses, health coaches and the physician community, providing adjunct research support to help employers in their health improvement efforts with employees.

At this session, you will:

• Examine the challenges employers face in engaging their employees
• Understand the barriers that prevent employees from engaging in health-seeking behaviors
• Discover why participation in employer-sponsored benefits and programs are low
• Identify the triggers that can help support effective behavior change