Approaches to wellness initiatives.

• Position: Statistical data

Global Corporate Challenge has released a new report that provides insight into how organizations around the world approach wellness. The 2013 Global Workplace Health & Wellness Report includes details about successes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

One of the key findings is that wellness is firmly on the global business agenda, with 95 percent of organizations having or planning a wellness strategy. Of these, 41 percent have a strategy, and 22 percent have fully implemented their strategy.

The focus of these programs is on long-term behavioral change. Eighty-five percent of organizations want to empower employees in this way, and organizations are increasingly recognizing the sustained outcomes of behavioral change-based wellness strategies in achieving health risk reduction and improved performance in employees. Physical inactivity is the top risk behavior addressed, followed by stress and poor nutrition. Short-sighted "quick fix" approaches are phasing out.

Employee participation is both a top-ranking concern and a barrier. Wellness initiatives are achieving less than 20 percent participation, on average, well short of the 60 percent participation goals established by most organizations. Lack of time and interest are cited as top barriers to employee participation, highlighting the potential for...