Working out: The benefits shape-up

Despite the downturn, more employers are offering health and wellbeing benefits than ever before. But does a brief flirtation with a never-ending supply of Golden Delicious and some Nicorette patch slapping benefit the boss? Annie Hayes reports.

Wellbeing benefits on offer

Subsidised gym membership no longer pre-empts an 'oh wow' response. It's about as expected as salary itself, and health and wellbeing benefits have long since surpassed a free ticket to the workout studio with a good range of alternative options on the menu.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD) absence management survey 2008 report shows that the most commonly provided employee wellbeing benefits (in addition to gym membership) include access to counselling services, stop smoking support, employee assistance programmes, healthy eating options in staff restaurants and access to physiotherapy.