There are just too few hours in a day. Or, I should say employees don’t give wellness programs their time of day. 

According to a Global Corporate Challenge report, 86 percent of employees do not participate in wellness programs because they feel they do not have the time to do so. An initiative not being perceived as fun, interesting, or engaging was the second-most cited reason for omitting participation in wellness initiatives, as reported by 45 percent of employees.

If time is really the issue, it’s time we start looking at wellness programs in a new light. According to the report, wellness initiatives need to be easily accessible to employees, a part of the organization’s culture, and integrated into employees’ daily routines—in and out of the office. It’s about altering the thought process: It’s not a break from work, but a part of work. 

The good news is, for the majority of organizations, improving employee health is a main goal. Companies are recognizing the importance of wellness programs, and the next step is to make them an engaging priority. 

The key word: engaging. 

Almost all organizations, 99 percent, report the importance of fun as medium or high. However, only 10 percent of employees report wellness programs reaching high levels of fun. Many commercial wellness programs may be perceived as dull—you pick up meals, eat the same foods, and have few interactions with other individuals. 

This is where The Center for Medical Weight Loss stands out. CMWL’s focus on behavioral counseling sets the program apart from other weight loss centers. Patients build lifelong relationships with their physicians who monitor their weight loss, and the entire staff becomes a weight loss support system. 

According to the report, 84 percent of organizations believe long-term behavioral change is key to wellness strategy. This statistic is reassuring—quick fix weight loss is now the minority. Focus on behavioral counseling sits at the core of CMWL’s values. The program is engaging because it’s individualized, it recognizes weight loss isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it focuses on adopting a new lifestyle.  

So, what’s next? 

Organizations recognize the importance of wellness initiatives. It’s a step in the right direction. However, the report also shows the most at-risk individuals are not taking advantage of the programs offered. Take the time to set up a meeting with at-risk individuals and discuss how you, as an employer, can help them achieve better health. If you understand your employees’ priorities, you can work together to free up some time on their schedules for wellness initiatives; maybe even convince them that they can have fun while they lose weight.