No kidding.

Assuming the SHRM survey was accurate, Coville said one of two conditions must be behind the disconnect: Either employers have a wellness program but they haven't fully communicated its existence to the troops, or the plan is so weak employees don't consider it to be a wellness program.

In a May 2014 survey, Gallup found a similar disconnect when it surveyed workers and bosses about wellness programs at companies with more than 1,000 employees. Only six in 10 employees said their employer had such a program, while 85 percent of employer representatives said they included a wellness plan in their health coverage.

Brodeur reported that millennials were far more likely to be aware of a wellness plan's existence than were baby boomers, by a 40 percent-to-24 percent margin. And while 73 percent of millennials said they participate in the company plan, only 55 percent of boomers said they did.

When Brodeur asked respondents to cite the reasons for not participating, here's what they heard:

• I'm concerned about my privacy: 50 percent

• I doubt it will help me: 31 percent

• I have no faith in my company's ability to run a useful program: 19 percent

Referring to the resistance to wellness program offerings by older employers, Coville said the issue cries out to be taken seriously if employers truly want a healthier workforce.

"This is a troubling inversion, but there's an opportunity here," Coville said. "Older workers, given that they are at higher risk for many conditions, are likely to deliver the biggest return on investment in a wellness program. Employers that can effectively address the concerns of older workers, who certainly value their well-being as much as anyone, can suddenly possess a sizeable population of new advocates."