Employee Wellness: Older vs. Younger Workers

In a surprising twist, new research shows that older workers are significantly healthier than their younger counterparts.

According to the study from ComPsych Corporation, more than half of employees in their 60s have healthy diets, compared to just 17.7 percent of those in their 30s, who may be distracted by growing family obligations and the like. Workers in their 50s and 60s also fared better on a range of other wellness factors, including level of exercise, social support and stress.

Some of the key findings:

• 27.3 percent of employees in their 50s worked out more than four days a week, versus 19.6 percent of thirtysomething workers
• 82.6 percent of workers in their 60s had a very positive outlook on life, compared to 46 percent of employees in their 30s
• 30.4 percent of employees in their 60s had high stress levels, versus 64.7 percent of thirtysomethings
  

“Workers in their 30s may be at peak productivity but also at greatest risk for neglecting their health and developing long-term health problems due to poor lifestyle choices,” said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych, in a press release. “Corporate wellness programs should be especially attentive to the needs and issues of this age group.”