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Today we continue with SHRM's recent 2015 Employee Benefits report: “An Overview of Employee Benefits Offerings in the U.S.” Our focus: Preventive Health and Wellness Resources, Other Benefits, & Trends.

We know that Preventable and Chronic Conditions are an incredibly important element of any workplace wellness plan. Addressing these issues not only helps save healthcare costs, but also, it saves lives. One key issue: Obesity.

The report states: “A number of health problems are associated with excess weight and other types of preventable and chronic conditions. These conditions affect the health and well-being of employees and also have a significant economic impact on businesses. Organizations are attempting to combat these issues with health and lifestyle coaching (46%), weight loss programs (33%), subsidies or reimbursements for fitness center memberships (32%), on-site fitness centers (21%), nutritional counseling (20%), on-site fitness classes (17%), off-site fitness class subsidies/reimbursements (16%), and fitness equipment subsidies/reimbursements (6%). Other benefits that encourage a healthy lifestyle include smoking cessation programs (44%), standing desks (25%) and stress reduction programs (5%).”

Companies can provide a series of resources to employees. According to the report:

“Preventive health and wellness resources help make employees aware of wellness issues while providing them with important tools to live a healthy lifestyle. Sixty percent of organizations offered a wellness publication, and 40% organized health fairs.”

“Other types of preventive health and wellness benefits offered by organizations included a 24-hour nurse line (51%), CPR/first aid training (50%) and an on-site blood pressure machine (17%). In addition, 11% of organizations offered massage therapy services for employees at the office.”

And the trend to offer wellness resources is growing. The report offers a chart that “shows the percentages of organizations that offered specific preventive health and wellness benefits from 2011 through 2015. The only benefit offered by more organizations in 2015 compared with 2014 and 2011 was wellness programs. The percentage of the following preventive health and wellness benefits has increased in 2015 compared with 2011: health and lifestyle coaching, smoking cessation programs, preventative programs specifically targeting employees with chronic health conditions, rewards or bonuses for completing certain health and wellness programs, health care premium discounts for getting an annual health risk assessment, health care premium discounts for participating in a wellness program, and health care premium discounts for not using tobacco products.”