Minnesota Worksite Wellness Survey
2012
Presented by
Mike Dorssom
Wyoming survey & Analysis Center
University of Wyoming Based on the
Minnesota Worksite Wellness Survey, 2012
Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center
WYSAC: Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC), University of
Wyoming department providing customized research services on a
wide range of policy issues to a variety of public and private clients.
Key WYSAC personnel:
• Michael Dorssom, MA, Co-manager of WYSAC’s Survey Research Center
and Principal Investigator for the Minnesota Worksite Wellness Survey,
2012.
• Bistra Anatchkova, Ph.D., WYSAC Director, Project Director and supervisor.
• Brian Harnisch managed all activities related to administration of mail
surveys and supervised survey data collection operations.
Background of Research
History: In the fall of 2011, the Office of State Health Improvement
Initiatives (OSHII) at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
contracted with WYSAC to conduct a state-wide survey of worksite
wellness practices and policies.
Purpose: To assess the prevalence and types of worksite wellness
policies in place at worksites of various sizes throughout the state of
Minnesota.
Methods: Instrument
Methods: Instrument
Mode: Data collection for the Minnesota Worksite Wellness Survey
MWWS used web-based and mail administration modes.
Content: Focus was on elements of worksite wellness programming
and policies of interest to the MDH.
Worksite vs. Company: The distinction between worksite-specific
questions and company-wide questions was carefully communicated.
Methods: Sample Design & Size
The population of interest for this study was all worksites within the
state of Minnesota with at least 10 employees. An important
distinction was made during the sampling stage between worksites
and companies.
40,695 worksites with at least 10 employees were identified. A
stratified sample totaling 2750 was drawn from the list that allows for
comparisons by worksite size, with a goal of a total of 650 completed
surveys.
Methods: Administration
Multiple mailings:
 Pre-notice letter (authored by Minnesota Commissioner of Health)
 Email invitation to web survey
 Questionnaire, cover letter (including web invite), mailing envelope was MDH
branded
 Reminder postcard
 Second questionnaire
Fax follow-up to non-responders
Response Rate & Margin of Error
Response Rate: 2550 total worksites were surveyed after 200 that
were out of business or had invalid addresses were eliminated.
Completed surveys were obtained from 772 worksites, for a response
rate of 30%.
Margin of Error: Margin of error about ±3.49 percentage points with
95% confidence for estimate of statewide distributions.
Note: Difficult to receive completions from worksites that do not
have a worksite wellness program. Lack of programming or policy is a
factor to consider regarding response rate and might lead to slight
over representation of worksites and companies that have worksite
wellness policies.
Distribution of Completions
Frequency
Mail
Web
Valid Percent
10 to 24
171
112
36.7%
25 to 99
119
94
27.6%
100 to 249
40
59
12.8%
250 to 499
35
61
12.4%
500 or more
33
48
10.5%
398
374
100%
772
100%
Sub-total
Total
Data Compilation & Analysis
Merge: Data from web and mail sources were merged, cleaned, and
coded.
Weighting: To facilitate analysis, a weighting variable was created to
compensate for the over-sampling of large worksites needed for
between-category comparisons.
Statewide Representation: Weighting variable represents Minnesota
worksite distribution by “down-weighting” worksites with 100 or
more employees and “up-weighting” of the 10 to 24 employee
category.
Population Estimate and Sample
Population Estimate
Frequency
Valid Percent
Sample Actual
Frequency
Valid Percent
10 to 24
23,597
58.0%
283
36.7%
25 to 99
13,272
32.6%
213
27.6%
100 to 249
2,799
6.9%
99
12.8%
250 to 499
666
1.6%
96
12.4%
500 or more
361
0.9%
81
10.5%
40,695
100%
772
100%
Total
Sample Demographics
Time company has been in operation
Frequency
Time worksite has been in operation
Valid
Percent
Frequency
Valid
Percent
Less than 1 year
3
0.4%
Less than 1 year
10
1.3%
1 to 2 years
7
0.9%
1 to 2 years
12
1.6%
3 to 5 years
12
1.6%
3 to 5 years
30
3.9%
Over 5 years
744
97.1%
Over 5 years
711
93.2%
Total valid
765
100.0%
Total valid
766
100.0%
No answer
6
No answer
6
Total missing
6
Total missing
6
Total
772
Total
772
Sample Demographics
Percentage of worker type at worksite
None
Less than
1/3 to 2/3
1/3
More
than 2/3
Women
3.0%
22.7%
37.8%
36.6%
Full-time 35+ hours per week
3.1%
14.0%
23.0%
59.9%
Under age 40
5.0%
32.5%
50.3%
12.2%
Production line workers
78.2%
3.9%
9.4%
8.4%
Workers on 2nd or 3rd shift
58.7%
23.7%
15.6%
2.0%
Sample Demographics
Percentage of worker type at worksite
Frequency
Valid Percent
Health care
124
16.2%
Manufacturing
101
13.2%
Education
83
10.8%
Service industry
76
9.9%
Food industry
67
8.7%
Retail
63
8.2%
Government
56
7.3%
Construction
43
5.6%
Transportation
14
1.8%
2
0.3%
Other please specify
137
17.9%
Total valid
766
100.0%
Mining
No answer
6
Total missing
6
Total
772
Worksite Wellness Climate & Acceptance
Receptive to worksite wellness
Health messages supporting worksite wellness
Wellness program in place
Employment practices supporting wellness
Employee Assistance Program offerings
Summary of written worksite wellness policies in place
Receptiveness to Worksite Wellness
Company receptive to policy development/change
0%
25%
50%
75%
Worksite size by Receptiveness to policy change
Worksite Size
100%
< 100
employees
Yes
No
87%
13%
Q9. Would you say that the management
of your COMPANY is receptive to policy
development or policy change regarding
employee health and wellness?
100+
employees
Yes
85.4%
96.5%
No
14.6%
3.5%
Health-related messages and plans
Health-related messages and plans for action regarding worksite wellness
0%
25%
25%
Annual, or periodic, health-related
messages from the CEO*
40%
24%
Written organizational objectives for
workplace wellness or health*
44%
26%
Policy statement that specifically
mentions workforce wellness
Strategic plan for workforce wellness*
< 100 employees
50%
36%
13%
29%
100+ employees
Employment practices supporting
worksite wellness
Worksite size by Wellness program in place
Employment practices or programs offered to employees
0%
Worksite Size
< 100
employees
Q11 Is there a worksite
wellness program at your
COMPANY?
100+
employees
Yes
18.9%
55.3%
No
81.1%
44.7%
25%
50%
Organized social events open to
all employees (not including
mealtimes)
< 100 employees
100%
64%
A formal employee grievance
procedure*
Management training on stressrelated issues (performance
review, communications skills)
75%
83%
40%
49%
63%
70%
100+ employees
Employee Assistance Program offerings
Employee assistance programs
0%
25%
50%
Substance abuse
treatment*
41%
41%
Personal counseling
38%
Financial counseling*
30%
Family counseling
Elder care*
100%
68%
78%
Retirement planning
Child care*
75%
16%
13%
< 100 employees
63%
66%
63%
60%
35%
34%
100+ employees
Written Policy Summary
Written policies supporting
worksite wellness
0%
25%
50%
19%
Q11. Is there a worksite wellness program at your
COMPANY?*
75%
55%
23%
81%
Q19. Does your COMPANY provide health insurance
coverage to the employees?*
Q21. During the past 12 months did your COMPANY
provide a health risk assessment (HRA) ‐ a general
health screening questionnaire ‐ for its…
Q26. Does your COMPANY have a written policy to
make healthy food options available to the
employees?
Q32. Does your COMPANY have a written policy
supporting onsite breastfeeding?*
82%
12%
15%
6%
9%
6%
10%
13%
33%
73%
75%
92%
6%
8%
6%
65%
Q48. Does your COMPANY have a written policy
about tobacco use in the worksite?*
< 100 employees
97%
32%
Q36. Does your COMPANY have a written policy for
alcohol, specifically addressing employee use of
alcohol at the worksite or on the job?*
Q39. Does your COMPANY have a written policy to
support exercise or physical activity of employees
during work days?
100%
68%
100+ employees
All worksites
89%
Health Insurance
Most worksites reported having health insurance offered
Little or no effect due to company size – range from:
 82 percent – 10 to 24 employees, to
 99 percent – 500 employees or more
Health Insurance
Health insurance coverage provided to employees
Yes
No
Total valid
No answer
Total missing
Total
Frequency
631
134
765
7
7
772
Valid Percent
82.5%
17.5%
100.0%
Health insurance coverage offered to families of employees
Yes
No
Total valid
No answer
Skipped
Total missing
Total
Frequency
556
69
625
12
134
147
772
Valid Percent
89.0%
11.0%
100.0%
Nutrition
Written nutrition policy
Written policy for healthy food access
Food options at worksite
Nutrition
Written policy to make healthy food options available
to employees
Frequency
Worksite Size
< 100 employees 100+ employees
Valid Percent
Yes
47
6.1%
No
721
93.9%
Total valid
768
100.0%
No answer
4
Total missing
4
Total
Worksite size by written policy for healthy food options
772
Q26 Does your COMPANY have a
written policy to make healthy food
options available to the employees?
Yes
5.7%
9.4%
No
94.3%
90.6%
Worksite size by food available at worksite
Worksite Size*
< 100
100+
employees
employees
Q27 Not including the food brought to
work from home, from which of the
following sources is the food
employees eat at this worksite
available? – N/A, food not available.
Not
Available
43.7%
15.3%
Available
56.3%
84.7%
Nutrition
Food availability
Healthy food options
0%
An on-site cafeteria*
25%
Employee meetings*
75%
12%
27%
65%
5%
16%
< 100 employees
0%
25%
29%
19%
During employee
meetings
Any other source
18%
100+ employees
50%
75%
12%
35%
19%
In vending machines*
In the coffee shop
9%
Any other source
100%
At the cafeteria*
35%
Vending machines*
An on-site coffee shop
50%
58%
3%
6%
11%
12%
17%
15%
< 100 employees
100+ employees
100%
Nutrition
Specific healthy food availability
0%
25%
50%
75%
31%
Skim milk / low-fat milk*
74%
Water / no calorie flavored
water*
79%
33%
100% Fruit juice*
Low fat items (pretzels,
granola bars, etc.)*
80%
41%
25%
Fresh vegetables*
27%
Fresh fruit*
Other
100%
81%
54%
63%
12%
20%
< 100 employees
100+ employees
95%
Breastfeeding
Written policy supporting breastfeeding
Information resources provided
Flexible breaks and work options supporting breastfeeding
Provides private on-site lactation room
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding policies in place
0%
Worksite size by written breastfeeding policy
Worksite Size*
< 100 employees 100+ employees
Q32 Does your COMPANY
have a written policy supporting
onsite breastfeeding?
Yes
10.0%
32.9%
No
90.0%
67.1%
Company provides information
and resources to help prepare
women to balance the
requirements for
breastfeeding with their job…
25%
50%
75%
100%
9%
25%
Worksite provides flexible
breaks and work options for
breastfeeding employees to
express breast milk*
Worksite provides a private
on-site lactation room*
< 100 employees
52%
84%
30%
66%
100+ employees
Alcohol
Written polices regarding:
Workplace alcohol use
Company functions
Driving company vehicle
Alcohol
Written policy about workplace alcohol use
Yes
No
Total valid
No answer
Total missing
Total
Frequency
570
188
758
14
14
772
Valid Percent
75.2%
24.8%
100.0%
Written policy about alcohol use at
organizational functions
Frequency
No alcohol use
allowed
Yes, cash bar
Yes, open bar
Total valid
No answer
Total missing
Total
Valid Percent
356
53.7%
213
93
662
110
110
772
32.2%
14.0%
100.0%
Written policy about alcohol use in
company-owned vehicles
Yes
No
Total valid
No answer
Total missing
Total
Frequency
517
226
743
29
29
772
Valid Percent
69.5%
30.5%
100.0%
Tobacco
Workplace has written tobacco policy
Areas where tobacco use is allowed
Disciplinary measures for tobacco policy violations
Worksite support for tobacco cessation
Tobacco
Places that smoking is allowed at the worksite
0%
Worksite size by written tobacco policy
Worksite Size*
< 100 employees 100+ employees
Q48 Does your COMPANY
have a written policy about
tobacco use in the worksite?
Yes
64.9%
89.4%
No
35.1%
10.6%
25%
35%
On the grounds of the
organization, for example, in
an outdoor smoking area
Other places
75%
37%
Smoking is not allowed
anywhere
In vehicles owned by the
organization
50%
61%
62%
4%
5%
4%
2%
< 100 employees
100+ employees
100%
Tobacco
Policies, programming, services
in place regarding tobacco use
0%
25%
50%
Written policy about
disciplinary measures
(warnings, fines) for any
tobacco use policy
violations*
Provide access to cessation
medications through health
insurance at low cost or no
cost*
Promotes the Minnesota
QUITPLAN Services or
similar tobacco cessation
resources*
Provide counseling through
an individual, group, or
telephone counseling
program on-site or through
a health plan*
< 100 employees
75%
43.7%
60.5%
36.3%
66.7%
22.6%
51.2%
29.6%
61.9%
100+ employees
100%
Physical Activity
Written policy supporting worksite physical activity
Specific programs supporting physical activity
On-site facilities available for physical activity
Physical Activity
Worksite size by written physical activity policy
Worksite Size
< 100
employees
Q39 Does your COMPANY have a written
Yes
policy to support exercise or physical
activity of employees during work days?
No
100+
employees
5.8%
8.2%
94.2%
91.8%
Physical Activity
Although few companies reported a written policy, some did
report programs encouraging physical activity, including:
 52 percent encourage use of stairs
 47 percent offer bike parking
 33 Percent have programs supporting physical activity during
work time
 25 percent offer gym memberships and access to showers
Minnesota Worksite Wellness Survey, 2012
Questions?
Mike Dorssom / [email protected]
http://wysac.uwyo.edu