2023 Employee Worksite Well-Being Interest Survey: Key takeways, next steps

‌In fall 2023, a survey was sent to all Skidmore College employees to evaluate the current Live More, Skidmore employee well-being program and ask for input, needs, and interests for future program improvements. 
 
Key takeaways from the 2023 survey include:

• About 200 Skidmore employees completed the survey, with participation from nearly all demographic groups.
• About half of respondents have never participated in current Live More, Skidmore offerings. However, 97% of participants said they would be or might be interested in participating.
• The most common noted barrier to participation in wellness programming was a lack of time.
• Employees expressed a major interest in getting more activity while at work and said providing indoor/outdoor walking routes around campus is a great way to incorporate this interest. The respondents also expressed interest in group fitness classes.
• 60% of respondents were interested in on-site health/flu clinics.
• Sessions for getting to know and understand benefits ranked high in both the “financial” and “physical activities or resources you would use” categories.
• Under the financial wellness category, a large portion of respondents said investing was a topic of interest.
• 70% of participants said they would be interested in massage therapy.
• Over half of participants expressed interest in mindfulness, stress management, and yoga.
• 87% of respondents expressed interest in receiving wellness information via monthly emails.

In response to the survey results, plans are underway for:

• Offering simplified, brief programs during the work day. These may include lunch and learns, 15- to 30-minute workshops, and physical challenges (like walking) that allow for the activities to be completed while at work.
• Offering more programs, workshops, and challenges that focus on mental health interests
• Continuing to offer biometric screenings each year
• Communicating the current and expanded educational offerings on investing, retirement, and other financial topics
• Offering on-campus chair massages on a schedule to be determined
• Hosting virtual 30-minute “Get to Know Your Benefits” sessions where MVP/Optum will present a short presentation, followed by time for questions
• Partnering with MVP to create a wellness newsletter.

Please feel free to contact Laura Goodwin if you have any questions, are interested in joining the planning group, or if you partake in any wellness activity and have feedback.