Over Half of Employers Cite Employee Satisfaction as Most Important Goal

The rising costs of healthcare coupled with the stresses of modern working life have made employee health and well-being an increasingly critical priority for employers. Investing in workplace wellness initiatives yields benefits in productivity, absenteeism, recruitment, retention, company culture, and more. However, designing and implementing impactful programs comes with substantial challenges. Employers must balance quality programming with cost management, account for diverse workforce needs, and leverage data analytics to gauge value.  

To better understand the value of products and programs that support employee health, the Integrated Benefits Institute conducted a mixed methods research study analyzing survey data from 305 HR professionals in the United States alongside qualitative insights. Data collection focused on factors driving benefits priorities, implementation challenges, partnerships, use of data and metrics, lessons from the pandemic, tensions between employee desires and business objectives, and recommendations for strategic investment.  

IBI’s survey finds that 51% of employers cite employee satisfaction as their organization’s most important goal, followed by cost mitigation and revenue generation (41%). Approximately 44% fo companies collect employee health data either monthly or continuously to assess program value. Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters (72%) collect data on satisfaction, 57% on retention, and 52% on productivity – linking insights to both quality and costs. Approximately 64% of respondents indicate they conduct formal evaluations of their health programs annually.  

Benefits Program Priorities for Employers 

Mental health and emotional support are the main priorities for 51% of employers, followed by financial well-being and support programs, health and wellness education, flexibility and work-life balance, and caregiving benefits. Nearly 70% of companies report that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly or moderately influenced benefits program strategies.  

Demographic differences arose in the survey results, as employees 30-45 years old have the highest satisfaction rates (88%). They are most interested in work-life balance (28%), financial well-being assistance (19%), and health education (18%). Those 46-55 and over 55 years old are most interested in preventative screenings and financial assistance. The youngest group (under 30 years old) are most interested in work-life balance, flexibility, and fitness and wellness programs.  

Adapting programming to new virtual and hybrid work arrangements poses additional hurdles as 45% cite balancing remote work, 44% cite isolation, and 33% cite managing burnout. Interviews indicate culture has been impacted by these workforce changes and employers have struggled modifying initiatives to both onsite and remote employees.  

What Does This Mean for Employers? 

IBI conducted interviews with experts in the field to reveal actionable insights that can be used as guidance for employers in strategizing around benefits design.  

Recommendations for employers are below.  

• Re-evaluate existing policies and programs to ensure they map to overarching objectives around productivity, growth, efficiency, and other metrics.  
• Be intentional around hybrid and remote work – assess which roles are best suited for fully remote, hybrid, or in-office work based on business needs.  
• Focus on skills and talent development.  
• Emphasize outcomes over engagement – leverage data analytics to identify how offerings are impacting health metrics, absenteeism, retention, and productivity.  
• Offer training and support for managers. 
• Link programs directly to company mission and culture.  
• Clear communication and thoughtful change management are key.  
• Streamline point solutions, plan offerings, and policies to reduce confusion.