Is Your Employee Wellness Program Actually Keeping Employees Well?

Nearly 85% of large employers in the United States offer workplace wellness programs. In fact, global corporate spending on wellness is on track to exceed $94 billion by 2026.

Unfortunately, there is little evidence to support that these wellness programs work the way they are intended. While high numbers of employees participating in digital wellness programs self-report an increase in exercise and weight management efforts, in actuality their health measures and outcomes are largely no different than people without an employee wellness program.

This begs the question: Is your employee wellness program actually helping employees get well and stay healthy? And if not, what can move the mark – especially when it comes to weight management and the effective use of GP1-s? 

Are Employee Wellness Programs Really Working?

Globally, the corporate wellness market was valued at more than $65 billion in 2024. At the center of many of these programs are dashboards and apps. However, this model is employee-driven and results are often measured by logins or clicks.

To get “points” for working out, a person simply needs to log that they’ve completed a workout. Tell the app you ran three miles, ate a healthy breakfast, and slept eight hours and you can get your points for the day without ever actually accomplishing these goals. By accumulating these points, employees can earn deductions on their health care premiums, HSA bonuses, or other financial incentives and rewards. 

However, while these strategies may promote engagement in the program, they may also fall short in creating cost savings through sustained, measurable improvements in health. 

So, how do you know if your employee wellness programs are producing results? And is it time to rethink and reallocate where you’re putting those wellness dollars to optimize employee health?

As your organization is analyzing employee wellness programs, start with your company culture. Are you walking the walk to promote employee wellness? Or are you hosting staff meetings with pizza and cookies, stocking the breakroom with donuts, and hosting happy hours at restaurants? Every wellness program should align with and be reinforced by your broader company culture. Prioritize walking meetings over waffle fries, for example. 

Also, look at what you’re currently measuring. If the data you receive only covers clicks, it might be time to invest in a program that delivers measurable results. 

And, given the increasing interest we’ve seen from True Rx Health Strategists clients in investing in clinical wellness programs that take care of those with chronic disease states – notably, obesity and diabetes – it may be the perfect time to reevaluate.

Rising GLP-1 Demand and Weight Management Programs 

Keep employees healthy: That is, of course, the goal of corporate wellness programs. But an important component is also to care for and help stabilize people with chronic diseases. The most successful wellness programs have individual, face-to-face components, especially when it comes to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, weight management, and diabetes.

Additionally, GLP-1 medications are becoming more popular, and employees are increasingly expecting their workplace benefits to address that drug class. Employer-sponsored coverage of these medications has more than doubled over the past two years alone, with more than one-third of employers now providing coverage of GLP-1 drugs and 31% of people now saying they’d change jobs to obtain GLP-1 coverage.

However, any decision by an employer to cover GLP-1 medications for employees should come with a corresponding, personalized wellness program.

GLP-1s are approved for weight loss and diabetes management in conjunction with diet and lifestyle changes. Employers can’t expect the best return on their investment if they choose to cover only GLP-1 medications – wellness coverage needs to include a diet and lifestyle component as well as medication adherence and dosage guidance.

When it comes to employee wellness programs, employers no longer want to simply check a “wellness program” box. Both employers and employees expect to see those programs truly delivering results. As organizations and wellness programs evolve, companies can see a greater value in programs that are measured through actual health metrics instead of just app clicks. Work with your PBM to find an employee wellness program that targets and drives these results. 

At True Rx, we're committed to transforming employee health through innovative, results-driven solutions. Our True Outcomes program already supports diabetes management and, we're now piloting an exciting GLP-1 companion program focused on weight management. We’re excited to fully launch the program in late 2025, so stay tuned for that and discover how True Outcomes can elevate your wellness strategy today.