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As wellness programs grow in popularity, employees overwhelmingly see value in these healthy activities, but don’t stay committed to them, according to a new survey from the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian).

Nearly half of employees who have participated in wellness programs in the past three years admit that their commitment trails off after just a few years.

• Sixty-eight percent of employees believe that incentives such as cash, gifts and extra vacation days can help them to shore up the willpower to adopt healthier behaviors such as exercising, eating properly and kicking their smoking habits.
• Two-thirds of all employees and 85% of those who are currently enrolled, or have participated in a wellness program in the past three years, say that these programs are very effective in promoting good health.

According to the study:

• Three in 10 employees either currently participate and/or have participated in a wellness program in the past three years.
• Only 35 percent of employees report that they have access to wellness programs at work. And half of those who believe that they have access at work are currently enrolled in a program.

A separate 2007 Guardian survey, shows that larger employers are more likely to embrace wellness programs.

• 82 percent of small employers, 90 percent of midsize employers and 99 percent of large employers see value in implementing wellness programs. Yet only 57 percent of the small businesses that value wellness programs have implemented some type of plan.
• This is compared to greater adoption in larger companies: 79 percent of the midsize businesses and 90 percent of large businesses that value wellness programs have one in place.

College graduates and the affluent are most likely to have participated in a wellness program in the past three years. Those with at least some college are more likely to favor health insurance covering complementary alternative medicine techniques.

Alternative techniques or practices that employees believe should be covered by insurance:

• Chiropractic – 72 percent
• Nutritional counseling – 71 percent
• Acupuncture – 57 percent
• Herbalism/Botanical Medicine – 49 percent
• Homeopathy – 45 percent
• Reflexology – 41 percent
• Personal Training – 41 percent
• Osteopathy – 40 percent
• Yoga – 39 percent
• Pilates – 31 percent

Guardian – which has long covered chiropractic and acupuncture in its health plans – gives plan participants access to complementary alternative therapies, including yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, massage, nutritional counseling, homeopathy, hypnotherapy and holistic medicine.

Address: Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, 7 Hanover Square, H-26E, New York, NY 10004; (212) 598-8000, www.guardianlife.com.