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November 22, 2004 —U.S. corporations are
doing more to promote wellness among employees, according
to American Management Association’s (AMA) 2004 Survey
on Corporate Health and Wellness Programs. The number of
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 to their
employees. According to the results, 80 percent of executives
feel that corporate America has a responsibility to promote
wellness, up from 71 percent last year. And companies are
taking action. Twenty-seven percent of those surveyed say
they are offering more programs this year than in 2003:
2004
|
|
2003 |
| 55% |
Exercise and fitness |
47% |
| 49% |
Smoking cessation |
41% |
| 49% |
Blood pressure management |
36% |
| 47% |
Weight management |
34% |
| 46% |
Stress management |
33% |
| 43% |
Cholesterol management |
27% |
| 39% |
Nutrition |
25% |
Nearly three out of four (72%) respondents say they attend
the wellness programs when their company sponsors them,
up from 63 percent in 2003. But only 35 percent of those
companies that offer the programs extend some incentive
for employees to participate.
Forty-five percent of the companies surveyed offer discounts
or corporate memberships to health clubs for their employees,
and 22 percent have exercise facilities available on the
company’s premises. Another 56 percent of respondents
said their organizations participate in community- or corporate-sponsored
athletic activities, such as softball leagues, bowling teams
or fundraiser walks/runs.
Thirty percent of respondents say their companies have
cafeterias that provide or sell meals for employees, and
69 percent say that the selections offered are healthy,
including fruits, vegetables and low-fat entrees.
Thirty-six percent of companies offer corporate-sponsored,
comprehensive annual physicals: 18 percent say they are
extended to executives only and 18 percent indicate they
are for all staff members. Nearly three out of four (74%)
companies that responded provide flu shots, but 79 percent
of those companies had cancelled or postponed the program
due to the current shortage of the vaccine.
About AMA
American Management Association is the world’s leading
membership-based management development organization. Since
1923, it has provided valuable and practical action-oriented
learning programs to business professionals at every stage
of their careers. More than 500,000 AMA customers and members
a year learn new skills and behaviors, gain more confidence,
advance their careers and contribute to the success of their
organizations through a wide range of AMA seminars, conferences
and executive forums, as well as through AMA books and publications,
research, online learning and self-study courses. For more
information, visit www.amanet.org.
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