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BenefitsPro dives into a new Buck Consultants survey on wellness programs.

Key findings: “U.S. employers said their primary motivation for offering wellness plans was to cut health care costs; respondents from outside the U.S. said their No. 1 reason was to improve employee morale and to reduce sick days and presenteeism –- the phenomenon described as workers being on the job but not able to perform at the expected level.”

“The big-picture results offered yet more evidence that wellness programs are becoming a standard component of benefits package design around the globe. More than three-quarters of respondents said they ‘are strongly committed to creating a workplace culture of health, to boost individual engagement and organizational performance.' More than two-thirds of these employers told Buck wellness plans ‘are extremely or very important to attract and retain workers.'”

“Employers are taking wellness investments seriously, the survey showed. While in 2012, 36 percent said they measured wellness outcomes, in the latest survey, 52 percent were measuring the outcomes. To encourage participation, 52 percent of employers said they rely on a very simple tactic: offer reduced insurance premiums to those who participate. And, as wellness programs continue to gain advocates, employers are committing marketing dollars to them, developing brands for their programs and communicating regularly with employees about their programs.”