What do employees want that they do not already have when it comes to wellness benefits? They want onsite fitness facilities, according to a Principal Financial Well-Being Index: American Workers survey. Twenty-five percent of workers who do not have this benefit wanted it, making it the top desired benefit. The second-most desired benefit was fitness center discounts at 23 percent.
The percentage of workers wanting an onsite fitness facility grew from 19 percent in 2011 to 25 percent in 2012. The percentage of workers wanting a discount on their fitness center dues dropped from 25 percent in 2011 to 23 percent in 2012.
The number of companies that offer onsite fitness centers and dues discounts is low. Just 12 percent of workers surveyed in 2012 said their company offers an onsite fitness center, compared to 11 percent in 2008. The number of employees receiving fitness center discounts is just 19 percent, but that is an increase from 13 percent in 2008.
Despite the desire for these benefits by workers who do not have them, employees who are offered the benefits do not take advantage of them in high numbers. Of the 126 survey participants who had access to onsite fitness facilities, just 12 percent used the benefit. Of the 197 people in the survey who had access to fitness center discounts, just 13 percent took advantage of them.
The survey of 1,100 American workers at growing businesses with 10 to 1,000 workers focused specifically on wellness attitudes and behaviors. It was taken from the fourth quarter 2012 Index released by global investment management firm Principal Financial Group and conducted by Harris Interactive.