Many large employers are moving to boost programs that increase their workers' productivity, despite pressures they may feel to cut costs elsewhere. A new report from Watson Wyatt and the National Business Group on Health found that more than half of employers surveyed are planning no change or will increase their budgets for health and productivity programs. Furthermore, 72 percent have already added employee assistance programs, stress management or health coaches to onsite offerings, or plan to do so in the next year.

These programs have shown significant demand among employees. Forty-two percent of employers noted an increase in their workers' use of the company health plan. Nearly half said more workers are taking advantage of the EAP, and 30 percent saw an increase in disability claims.

And it seems to be working. According to the report, companies with the most effective programs managed to increase revenue by 11 percent per employee. Absenteeism was cut by 1.8 days per employee and medical trends fell by 1.2 percentage points. The report also noted that companies with effective programs were more likely to have lower health care costs, lower levels of presenteeism and lower turnover compared to their competition.