Employers likely to enhance wellness programs despite economy

Contrary to recent reports, employers in cost-saving mode are not likely to cut wellness programs, according to findings released by the nonprofit Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI). In fact, IBI’s survey of more than 400 employers shows less than 5 percent plan to reduce or eliminate health and productivity management initiatives.

“For health care reform to be successful we must focus on improving health and the importance of a healthy workforce or we will have a recipe for disaster that will cost the system more money than we can afford,” said Thomas Parry, Ph.D., president of IBI, in a released statement. “Employers understand this and are continuing, overall, to offer and improve their health and productivity management programs as is evidenced by our latest research.”