What’s the biggest challenge to health and wellbeing programme success in APAC?
Employers in the APAC region said effective health and wellbeing (H&W) programme promotion and motivating employees to participate are among their current challenges. Find out what else we learned when Optum surveyed 347 global employers.
After some decreases in 2021, APAC employers report trends toward increasing employee participation across all programs: Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – 38% in 2020, 22% in 2021 and 26% in 2022; health biometric screenings – 38% in 2020, 21% in 2021 and 26% in 2022; financial wellbeing – 43% in 2020, 20% in 2021 and 26% in 2022; and, onsite/worksite fitness centre – 34% in 2020, 16% in 2021 and 25% in 2022.
Participation rates are trending up in APAC, but they still fall short of 2020 levels for many programmes.
APAC employers report trends toward increasing employee participation across all programs, after some decreases in 2021: disease management programmes – 38% in 2020, 18% in 2021 and 24% in 2022; health advocacy service – 34% in 2020, 20% in 2021 and 23% in 2022; and case management programmes – 34% in 2020, 13% in 2021 and 22% in 2022; and onsite/worksite medical clinics – 32% in 2020, 18% in 2021 and 27% in 2022.
What percentage of your employees telecommuted before the COVID-19 pandemic compared to now?
Employers report over half of employees continue to telecommute at least part of the time. Internal meetings and onsite health fairs — normally popular communication channels — may fail to reach most workers.
In 2022, global employers reported 54% of their employees telecommuted compared to 31% before COVID-19.
The biggest challenge is raising participation rates among staff.
— Employer in Singapore
In 2022, global employers in APAC, EMEA and LATAM used multiple methods for promoting their H&W programmes: email – LATAM 62%, APAC 61% and EMEA 58%; internal meeting – EMEA 54%, LATAM 53% and APAC 51%; webinars/training – APAC 50%, EMEA 41% and LATAM 35%; web banners on company intranet – APAC 44%, EMEA 36% and LATAM 35%; and onsite health fairs – APAC 54%, EMEA and LATAM 30%.
In 2022, employers in the APAC region also used newsletters, posters/flyers, word of mouth, home mailers and wallet cards to promote their H&W programmes.
In 2022, global employers in APAC, EMEA and LATAM used multiple methods for promoting their H&W programmes (in order of how often the method was used): newsletters – LATAM 47%, EMEA 33% and APAC 24%; posters/flyers – LATAM 39%, APAC and EMEA 32%; word of mouth - Wellness Champion Network – APAC 39%, EMA 27% and LATAM 23%; home mailers – APAC 31%, LATAM 20% and EMEA 18%; and, wallet cards – APAC 26%, LATAM 22% and EMEA 18%.
My company’s greatest challenge is accumulating people at the right time for programmes as the employees are continuing to work from home.
— Employer in India
How effective is your H&W promotion strategy in reaching employees across environments?
Optum can help. We’re on a mission to create a healthier world. At Optum, we understand that corporate success starts with a healthy workforce. Our integrated health solutions, including our global Employee Assistance Programme, help advance your health and wellbeing strategy to build a culture of health within your organisation.
Learn more at optum.com/globalemployers.
2022 International Wellness in the Workplace Study
Health and wellbeing offerings attract and retain talent
Health and wellbeing now a top priority, say employers
Survey methodology
- 347 international employers located in APAC, EMEA or LATAM regions
- Global companies with 3,000+ employees
- Decision-makers in human resources, executive, management or administrative roles
- Surveys administered online from 7 April to 5 May 2022