"Workplace wellness" was once just a trendy phrase prospective employees might hear during the interview process, accompanied by a tour of the abandoned company weight room and outdated flyer for a step challenge. Since the inception, however, workplace wellness has moved from lip service to refined and purposeful initiatives tied closely to an employer's overall health care strategy. Results from Optum's 9th annual "Wellness in the Workplace" study, released earlier this year, show how this benefit continues to evolve as employers become more familiar with programs' potential and shape it to fit their needs. The study identified several key trends shaping today's employer-sponsored wellness programs. These trends reflect a desire to lower costs and focus on what employees really need. "Increasingly more employers are investing in wellness strategies to ensure their benefits offerings not only respond to, but also positively influence, important workplace and wellness trends," wrote Optum chief health officer Seth Serxner. Take a look at the slides above to see where employers are focusing their attention as they look to improve employee health and well-being. Want to hone your company's wellness strategy? Here's some reading to get started: |

• Wellness participation: How data drives engagement
• Improve workplace wellness by focusing on the collective 'We'
• Successful wellness programs start at the top