AMA Research

AMA 2004 SURVEY ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS

More corporations are doing their part to promote wellness among their employees, according to American Management Associations (AMA) 2004 Survey on Health and Wellness Programs. The number of U.S. companies offering educational programs on self-care topics is up in all 7 categories surveyed, including smoking cessation, exercise and fitness, and cholesterol management. In October, AMA surveyed its members and customers at 211 companies about the wellness programs they offer their employees. According to the findings, 80% of executives feel that corporate America has a responsibility to promote wellness, up from 71% last year.

Q. In your opinion, do corporations have a responsibility to promote wellness among employees? 2004 Yes No Dont know 80% 13% 7% 2003 71% 22% 7%

Education:
Q. Does your organization sponsor programs on any of the following selfcare topics: 2004 Exercise and Fitness Smoking Cessation Blood Pressure Management Weight Management Stress Management Cholesterol Management Nutrition 55% 49% 49% 47% 46% 43% 39% 2003 47% 41% 36% 34% 33% 27% 25%

Q. In the past year, has the number of company-sponsored health and wellness programs increased, remained the same or decreased? 2004 Increased Remained the same Decreased Dont know 27% 57% 8% 8% 2003 31% 47% 6% 16%

Participation:
Nearly three out of four (72%) respondents say they attend these programs when the company sponsors them, up from 63% in 2003. But only 35% of those companies that offer programs extend some incentive for employees to participate. Q. If your company offers any of these health and wellness programs, do you attend? 2004 Yes No Dont Know 72% 28% ** 2003 63% 36% 2%

Q. If your company sponsors these programs, do they offer incentives for employees to attend? 2004 Yes No 35% 65% 2003 29% 71%

Exercise and Fitness:

Forty-five percent of the companies surveyed offer discounts or corporate memberships to health clubs for their employees, and 22% have exercise facilities available on the companys premises. Another 56% of respondents said their organizations participate in community- or corporate-sponsored athletic activities, such as softball leagues, bowling teams or fundraiser walks/runs. Q. Are exercise facilities available to employees on the companys premises? 2004 Yes No 22% 78% 2003 25% 75%

Q. Are discounts or corporate memberships to health clubs extended to employees? 2004 Yes No Dont know 45% 49% 6% 2003 52% 47% 1%

Q. Does your organization participate in community- or corporatesponsored athletic activities (e.g., softball leagues, bowling teams, fund-raiser walks or runs)? 2004 Yes No Dont know 56% 43% 1% 2003 62% 37% 1%

Nutrition:
Thirty percent of respondents say their companies have cafeterias that provide or sell meals for employees, and 69% say that the selections offered are healthy, including fruits, vegetables and low-fat entrees. That number is down from 90% in 2003.

Q. Does your organization have a cafeteria that provides or sells meals for employees? 2004 Yes No 30% 70% 2003 29% 71%

Q. If so, in your opinion, are healthy selections offered (fruits, vegetables, low-fat entrees)? 2004 Yes No Dont Know 69% 25% 6% 2003 90% 10% **

Prevention:
Thirty-six percent of companies offer corporate-sponsored, comprehensive annual physicals: 18% say they are extended to executives only and 18% say they are for all staff members. Nearly three out of four (74%) companies that responded say their organizations provide flu shots. But 79% of those companies had cancelled or postponed the program due to the current shortage of the vaccine. Q. Does your organization offer corporate-sponsored, annual comprehensive physicals? 2004 Yes, for executives only Yes, for all staff members No Dont know 18% 18% 61% 3% 2003 22% 16% 59% 2%

Q. Does the organization provide annual flu shots? 2004 Yes No 74% 26% 2003 71% 29%

Q. How has the current shortage of flu vaccines affected your company? We are offering the flu shot Postponed flu shots until further notice Cancelled flu shots this year 21% 30% 49%

Demographics:
Q. How many employees does your company have in total? 2004 100 or less 101-500 501-1,000 1,001-2,500 2,501-5,000 5,001 or more 21% 36% 14% 12% 5% 12% 2003 20% 37% 15% 11% 7% 10%

Q. What industry best describes your company? 2004 Business/professional General services Public administration Wholesale/retail Financial services Manufacturing Other: 12% 3% 7% 5% 7% 40% 26% 2003 12% 2% 7% 6% 7% 44% 22%

**A response to this question was added or deleted from the previous years survey.

Copyright 2004, American Management Association, New York, New York 10019