As you consider your options for your employee benefits package, you may be wondering whether the addition of some alternative therapies is important. While in previous years alternative therapies weren’t always as popular, a recent article in Benefits Canada suggests that this statistic is changing.
The Fraser Institute has reported that the most popular age group for alternative therapies is 35-44, while income and education level also played a role in alternative therapy interests. Statistics from their most recent study showed that:
- 61% of study participants with a university degree used at least one form of alternative therapy.
- 62% of those earning $80,000 annually or more were likely to have tried alternative therapies.
The study also showed that not only is there an increase in the number of people who have participated in some form of alternative medicine, but more specifically, a significant increase in the number of people who have tried massage. Their statistical data shows a steady increase in those who participated in massage therapy rose from 23% in 1997 to 35% in 2006 and 44% in 2016.
Additionally, according to their 2016 survey, 79% of adult Canadians had tried at least one form of alternative medicine, such as massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, or naturopathy.
But what exactly does all of this data mean for your employee benefits offerings? The rise in the use of alternative therapies may mean that you should incorporate this into your competitive employee benefits package to attract and retain employees. While you may not want to include all forms, incorporating massage therapy or chiropractic care may go a long way to show employees you are committed to helping them reduce stress and maintain their overall wellness.
At BlueRock Corporate Benefits, we can help you build the employee benefits packagethat works best for your business. Contact us today to speak with an advisor.