25+ Compelling Employee Wellness Statistics

The employee benefits you offer can help attract and retain talent, allowing you to stay competitive in the fierce job market. However, as you go down the list of different benefit types, you’ve likely asked yourself, “Are wellness programs worth it?”. Will providing a wellness benefit to your employees lead to greater financial gains and a healthier labor force for you?  

Below, we’ll share important employee wellness statistics that will give you a glimpse into what employees expect, what employers are offering and the benefits of investing in the health of your workforce. 

Employee wellness programs based on business size

Organizations that want to stand out should have an idea of what similarly-sized companies are doing to improve talent acquisition. With rising health insurance premiums, companies are looking for ways to boost employee health and well-being to offset these costs. 

So, what type of employers seem to be implementing employee wellness programs? 

Here’s what we learned from a Statista survey:

Large firms

• Taking the lead, 94% of U.S. companies with 5000 or more employees provide some form of health-related program.

• 92% of firms with 1000 to 4999 employees offer at least one wellness program. 

• 80% of non-federal, public, and private firms with 200 - 999 employees provide some type of health-related program to control health insurance costs. 

• Overall, 83% of large firms have a wellness program. 

Small firms

The employee wellness statistics shared below reveal that small businesses are less likely to have health-related programs than larger firms. However, one longitudinal study found that small businesses may benefit more from these programs, as they have higher employee participation rates and more significant health improvements. 

• 70% of businesses with 50 to 199 employees offer an employee wellness benefit. 

• Of the firms with 1 to 49 employees, 57% have a health-related program. 

• In total, 58% of small companies provided a wellness program to help workers with smoking cessation, weight loss and more.

Different types of employee wellness initiatives

There are numerous employee wellness solutions available, but these seem to be some of the most popular ones:

• Stress management: A survey found that almost 70% of employers are looking to telemedicine offerings for health consultations, support and more. (Wellable)

• Smoking cessation: 34% of U.S. employers offer a smoking cessation program. (Statista)

• Weight management support: Some employers are making weight loss program participation a prerequisite for specific drug coverage, like GLP-1s. 40% of employers are increasing their efforts in weight programs to tackle obesity and its associated health risks. (Wellable) 

• Incentivizing wellness: A KFF survey revealed that 40% of large and 13% of small businesses incentivize employees who partake in a wellness program. (KFF)

• Disease management programs: Investments in chronic disease management programs have gone from 36% in 2023 to 48% in 2024. (Wellable)

• Mental health: 91% of businesses plan to invest more in mental health solutions for their workforce. (Forbes)

• Health risk assessments (HRAs): Employers are showing increased interest in HRAs to help individuals identify health risks sooner. HRA investments have doubled between 2023 and 2024 (7% and 14%, respectively). (Wellable) 

All of these initiatives can be offered remotely to your employees. 

Employee views on wellness and wellness programs

So, how do employees really feel about their employers extending wellness programs? Check out these employee wellness statistics to see for yourself: 

• 62% of employees and 82% of c-suite executives would be more likely to stay with their company if it better supported their well-being. (Deloitte) 

• 89% of employees who work at firms with wellness programs report being engaged and happy with their job. (Zippia) 

• 57% of employees and 69% of executives are thinking about leaving their jobs for one that better supports their well-being. (Deloitte) 

• Employees partaking in a recognition-led wellness program are 90% less likely to report feeling burned out at work. (Workhuman) 

• 48% and 56% of employees and executives, respectively, have quit a job because it negatively affected their well-being. (Deloitte) 

• 61% think their employers are partially responsible for helping them maintain their mental health. (AARP)

• Over 90% of employees believe well-being is as important as salary. (Wellable)

• 48% of employees feel that employers should help them keep up their physical health. (AARP)

• 72% of employers saw a decrease in healthcare costs after adopting a wellness program. (Zippia)

The benefits of employee wellness programs for employers

Let’s face it, investing in your employees' well-being isn’t free. Yet, as we asked before, “Are wellness programs worth it?” These statistics may paint a surprising picture for employers hoping to spruce up their benefits package.   

• 95% of companies saw a positive return on investment (ROI) for their wellness programs. (Wellhub)

• Nearly 99% of human resource leaders who evaluate their well-being programs found that it improved employee productivity. (Fortune) 

• Organizations with wellness initiatives have a 20% boost in employee productivity. (Wellable)

• 83% of employers categorize their wellbeing program as ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important to talent acquisition. (Wellhub)

• U.S. businesses with wellness programs saw a 63% leap in financial growth. (Success). 

• It’s estimated that for each dollar a company invests in a wellness program, they receive a return of $1.50 to $3.00 over a 2 to 9-year timeframe. (SFM)

• 56% of employees report using less sick days due to wellness programs. (Zippia) 

To further boost the success of your wellness program and achieve even more of the benefits mentioned above, aim to decrease barriers to entry. Many employees don’t participate in wellness programs because it’s not convenient to do so. This is likely why we’re noticing that 59% of employers are decreasing their investment in on-site fitness classes. Instead, employers are starting to take interest in virtual wellness solutions that offer more convenience at a lower cost.

Employee wellness statistics reveal a bright future

According to the stats above, employee wellness still remains a top priority for employers and employees. However, achieving those previously mentioned results is primarily based on offering services that your staff wants. Sending out employee interest surveys will help you determine the wellness benefits with the greatest ROI potential.

Additionally, you can meet your team where they’re at with a virtual wellness program. From weight loss assistance to providing treatment for cold symptoms, a remote care benefit can transform how you show up in the job market. 

At OpenLoop, we’re able to give employers a head start on their wellness benefits at no cost to their organization. Additionally, your employees gain access to the lowest industry pricing for the top wellness offerings. Through strategic industry partnerships and a seamless virtual care infrastructure, you can start offering benefits in as little as 2-weeks.

Interested in learning more? Get in touch here!