The first major study on the effectiveness of a workplace wellness program found that it had little impact on health outcomes, spending or utilization, according to a new Harvard study published in JAMA.
Details: It also didn't improve worker attendance or job performance over the 18 months of the study. It did, however, encourage employees to exercise more and improve their weight management.
Why it matters: Workplace wellness programs have been touted as a solution to rising health care costs while giving employers the benefit of a healthy workforce. But this study challenges that notion.
80% of large employers in the U.S. offer wellness programs, which are an $8 billion industry.
