Think your benefits package isn't the dealmaker/dealbreaker when it comes to landing top talent? Think again. And if you believe your investment in health benefits is paying off, you might want to ask plan members if they agree.
Nearly three-quarters of the 1,000 respondents to a One Medical survey on benefits packages said they carefully compared benefits packages when weighing offers from prospective employers. And the health care components of the benefits package is the one they examine most closely.
The survey sought input on benefits packages to give insight into the value employees place on various components of benefits packages. Two-thirds of respondents said they'd take a benefit package heavy on health care components over one loaded with non-health perks. And 75 percent of employees over the age of 45 said they'd choose better health benefits over more perks.
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The importance of health benefits was a recurring them with this group. Two-thirds of them agreed with the statement that "keeping them healthy should be one of the top goals of their company's benefits program."
But are employers aware of this preference? Perhaps not. Among this survey group, 49 percent said they believe their health is a top priority of their employer. Where is the company's attention? Two-thirds said managing the cost of health benefits is of higher priority to the corporation than is employee health.
Asked about wellness efforts, employees who work for companies with some sort of wellness plan cited the following as components of the plan:
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Employee assistance programs (45 percent);
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On-site vaccinations (45 percent);
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Fitness benefits (31 percent);
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Health-related workshops (31 percent);
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On-site health screening (25 percent).
Overall, according to many of the participants in this survey, employer health plans do not represent especially wise financial investments, and aren't accomplishing the goal of enhancing employee health.
"Many professionals still believe that their employer isn't doing enough to keep them healthy. Only about half of survey respondents (52 percent) say their company is making sufficient investments in their wellness and preventative care, and only 29 percent think their company's health and wellness programs are actually making them healthier," the report said.
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
