A winning combo for workplace success WELLNESS PROGRAMS EAPS VOLUNTARY INSURANCE

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1 AN AFLAC WHITEPAPER A winning combo for workplace success WELLNESS PROGRAMS EAPS VOLUNTARY INSURANCE They say nothing is certain but death and taxes, but for many there s another almost-certainty: working for a living. Sure, a small portion of the U.S. population is fortunate enough to be independently wealthy. But the rest of us work and we work hard.

2 WELLNESS PROGRAMS + EAPS + VOLUNTARY INSURANCE = A WINNING COMBO FOR WORKPLACE SUCCESS 2 American adults working full time put in an average of 47 hours per week. That s essentially six days out of every seven Forty-seven hours is merely the average, however. Four in ten workers say they toil for 50 hours per week or more. 1 given that 8 hours is considered a full workday. Given that people spend so much of their lives at the workplace, it s only natural they ve come to expect a lot from their employers. Although the health care landscape is shifting, most full-time employees still expect their benefits to include access to major medical insurance, as well as to voluntary coverage that helps provide an extra measure of financial protection in the event of illness or injury. Workers have come to expect other benefits, too and those expectations are sure to increase as the economy continues to improve and the competition for top workers becomes more intense. Among the most in-demand benefits are wellness and employee-assistance programs, which are geared toward improving workers physical health, mental health and overall well-being. The good news is that these programs benefit employers, too, by helping to alleviate illnesses and stress that have a direct effect on workplace results. Legendary football coach Lou Holtz who obviously knows a thing or two about stress once said, It s not the load that breaks you, but the way you carry it. Those are words to remember for the millions of American workers feeling the pressures of family, finances and work responsibilities. They re also words to remember for companies that employ those burn-thecandle-at-both-ends workers: BY SOME ACCOUNTS, WORKPLACE STRESS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UP TO $190 BILLION IN U.S. HEALTH CARE COSTS. 2 But it s not just about money. Stress has a direct effect on workplace productivity, whether it s absenteeism or simple distraction. The distraction is so real, in fact, that there s a name for it: It s called Attention Theory. In simple terms, the theory posits that stress reduces an individual s ability to concentrate on multiple tasks. That s a serious problem at workplaces today, where the ability to multitask is critical to achieving company goals and objectives.

3 WELLNESS PROGRAMS + EAPS + VOLUNTARY INSURANCE = A WINNING COMBO FOR WORKPLACE SUCCESS 3 Wellness programs: A solution for stress MediKeeper, a technology company that works to manage corporate health, recently conducted an in-depth study that revealed an interesting dynamic: While stress among Americans overall is increasing, it s declining among employees whose companies offer wellness programs. 3 What s more, workers enrolled in wellness programs report being less stressed about work itself than their counterparts. That s good news, because according to the Mayo Clinic, stress affects both physical and mental health. Physical symptoms include headache, muscle tension, chest pain, fatigue, stomach problems and more. On the mental health side, it can cause anxiety, lack of motivation, anger, sadness and depression. 4 Reducing employee stress and, in turn, increasing worker productivity and engagement is a common goal among today s businesses. According to the 2017 Aflac WorkForces Report, remaining competitive in the current marketplace is the top business objective among employers, which may explain why so many are increasingly tying their benefits programs to business results. THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT FOR 25 PERCENT OF EMPLOYERS, THE TOP GOAL OF THEIR BENEFITS PROGRAM IS INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY BY MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WORKFORCE. 5 Employers who believe their benefits programs meet business objectives are more likely than those who don t to have wellness programs 63% say they have good participation in their wellness initiatives 91% 30% 53% Source: 2017 Aflac WorkForces Report.

4 WELLNESS PROGRAMS + EAPS + VOLUNTARY INSURANCE = A WINNING COMBO FOR WORKPLACE SUCCESS 4 The components of a first-class wellness plan The primary goal of any company s wellness plan is ensuring that employees have the support they need to meet their goals and manage their overall health and well-being. Typically, that includes: Exercise programs Weight-loss initiatives Health-related programs and seminars Tobacco-cessation programs Advice for healthy eating and improved nutrition ONLINE PERSONAL WELLNESS PLATFORM All of these initiatives reap benefits, but many companies are going above and beyond with initiatives that take workplace wellness programs from, well, work to home and beyond. For example, help is just a click away 24 hours a day: Aflac offers a new Online Personal Wellness platform. It provides workers with easy access to the support they need, from messaging with an online wellness coach and gym discounts to digital tools, workshops and more. With the Personal Wellness platform, offered through a partnership with HealthAdvocate SM, employees can stay on top of their unique health and fitness needs, thanks to a combination of helpful tools that are accessible any hour of the day or night. These include: A personal health Online personal A resource website Compatibility Discounted profile, which helps guidance with a providing access to with wellness and memberships to them identify health secure messaging wellness workshops, fitness applications thousands of fitness risks and weak spots system. tools and programs. that allow them to centers nationwide. via a confidential, manage and track online questionnaire. their goals in one convenient location. For employers who want to provide their employees with all of these value-added services plus the convenience of coordinating via telephone with a wellness coach, there is Personal Wellness Plus.

5 WELLNESS PROGRAMS + EAPS + VOLUNTARY INSURANCE = A WINNING COMBO FOR WORKPLACE SUCCESS 5 Looking after employees mental health, too Wellness programs do an excellent job of promoting employees physical health, but their mental health is a growing concern, too. That s where employee assistance programs, or EAPs, fit in. EAPs are specifically designed to support workers as they deal with marital and other family issues, emotional problems, substance or alcohol abuse, grief or loss, depression or any other personal problem that negatively affects workplace performance. Aflac offers help and support in the EAP arena, too. The company has partnered with HealthAdvocate to provide the Telephonic EAP Program, which offers around-theclock access to licensed, professional counselors that can help employees with their personal situations. In addition to immediate help, experienced specialists can provide referrals for long-term counseling or specialized care and even help develop customized plans to meet workers unique needs. Employees can turn to the Telephonic EAP program for: Confidential telephone counseling sessions with highly trained, licensed professionals. 24/7 access to professional counselors. Referrals for long-term counseling or specialized care. Customizable treatment plans. Help with managing stress. Support for dealing with grief or loss. Drug and alcohol abuse counseling. For employers who want to provide their employees with all of these value-added services plus the convenience of in-person counseling, there is another choice: EAP + Work/Life. Photo

6 WELLNESS PROGRAMS + EAPS + VOLUNTARY INSURANCE = A WINNING COMBO FOR WORKPLACE SUCCESS 6 Wellness programs, EAPs and voluntary insurance: Keys to a healthier workforce As businesses seek to improve company health by improving employee health, it s clear that well-thoughtout wellness plans and employee assistance programs are critical. Just as important, though, is a strong health insurance plan that includes voluntary insurance options. According to the Aflac WorkForces Report, voluntary insurance is more likely to be offered at growing companies (29 percent) than at those that have maintained (24 percent) or declined (18 percent) in terms of sales or revenue in the last 12 months. Voluntary insurance is more likely to be offered at growing companies than at those that have maintained or declined in terms of sales. 29% 24% 18% If you decide to provide your employees with access to voluntary insurance, be sure to carefully vet the insurance companies you consider doing business with. Look for a company that has a reputation for honesty and integrity one that has a history of doing right by businesses and their employees. Look for a company like Aflac, which provides access to value-added services such as the Online Personal Wellness Platform and Personal Wellness Plus, as well as a Telephonic EAP Program and EAP + Work/Life, to the companies it does business with. After all, by partnering with an insurer that goes the extra mile for you, you ll go the extra mile for your employees. Sources 1 Gallup News. The 40-hour workweek is actually longer by seven hours. Accessed Dec. 29, Forbes. Workplace stress responsible for up to $190B in annual U.S. health care costs. Dec. 29, MediKeeper. Stress levels in the workplace are on the decline. Accessed Dec. 29, The Mayo Clinic. Stress symptom: Effects on your body and behavior. Accessed Jan. 3, Aflac Aflac WorkForces Report. Accessed Dec. 29, This article is for informational purposes and is not intended as a solicitation. Aflac has entered into a marketing alliance with Health Advocate whereby Health Advocate may provide one year of complimentary personal wellness services from Health Advocate to individuals who are employees of accounts that choose to make Health Advocate available to them. Other than this marketing alliance, Aflac and Health Advocate are not affiliated in any way. Aflac makes no representations or warranties regarding Health Advocate s products or services, and is not responsible for any products or services provided by Health Advocate. CAIC s affiliation with the Value-Added Service providers is limited only to a marketing alliance, and CAIC and the Value-Added Service providers are not under any sort of mutual ownership, joint venture, or are otherwise related. CAIC makes no representations or warranties regarding the Value-Added Service providers, and does not own or administer any of the products or services provided by the Value-Added Service providers. Each Value-Added Service provider offers its products and services subject to its own terms, limitations and exclusions. Value-Added Services are not available in Idaho or Minnesota. State availability may vary. Continental American Insurance Company, a proud member of the Aflac family of insurers, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated. This offering may not supersede the terms and conditions of any existing contract the client has with Health Advocate. Health Advocate reserves the right to refuse any client group through Aflac if the client group cancels a pre-existing contract with Health Advocate prior to expiration date of the contract. Aflac individual coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. Group coverage is underwritten by Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated. CAIC is not licensed to solicit business in New York, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands. For groups sitused in California, group coverage is underwritten by Continental American Life Insurance Company. For individual coverage in New York or coverage for groups sitused in New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. WWHQ 1932 Wynnton Road Columbus, GA Z EXP 1/19