Source: National Business Group on Health Survey, 7/8/2010, www.businessgrouphealth.orgWASHINGTON, DC -- While many U.S. employees use social media for personal reasons, a vast majority have not yet jumped onto the social media bandwagon for business use, nor are they interested in receiving information about their health benefits through social media, according to a new survey by the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit group of nearly 300 large U.S. employers.
Survey findings• 47% of the 1,500 U.S. employees surveyed said they use Facebook either daily or weekly for personal reasons while• 45% use text messaging either daily weekly for personal reasons.• 33%+ said they don't use social media vehicle for personal reasons at all.However, when it comes to using social media for business purposes, only• 7% use Facebook and• 16% use text messaging.• 80% said they were not interested in receiving information about their employer-provided health benefits, or tips on how to exercise, eat healthy or save money on health care via Twitter or text messaging."While all the rage outside of the workplace is on social media, most employees aren't ready to mesh that part of their routine into the workplace, at least when it comes to their health benefits," said Helen Darling, President of the National Business Group on Health. "In fact, a vast majority of workers would prefer their employers stick to tried and true communication methods -- mailings to home and e-mail."• 82% of respondents said that in the last year, they received information on their health benefits (i.e. health insurance, health fairs, etc.) from their employer through mailings to their home while• 58% said they received information through e-mails.• 47%)obtained information on their company's web site.When asked how interested would they be in receiving health benefit information via social media,• 75% said they had no interest in getting this information via Facebook;• 80% had no interest in receiving a tweet (Twitter) with health benefit information.• Virtually all respondents said they would prefer receiving this information via regular mailings to their homes or via emails.• Younger and higher income workers have more interest in receiving health benefits information via social media than older and lower income workers."Despite the current low interest level among workers, at some point social media will begin to resonate especially as young employees enter the workforce and older ones retire. And there are steps employers can begin to take," said Darling. "When developing a communication campaign, employers should consider what the message will focus on and choose a media type that marries well with it. Employers may also want to consider a test pilot with a single location or segment of the employee population."
About the SurveyThe National Business Group on Health Survey of Employees was conducted online in March 2010 and is based on responses from approximately 1,500 full and part-time employees of large U.S. employers (more than 5,000 employees). Respondents were between the ages of 22 and 64 and receive health insurance through their employer.About the National Business Group on Health
The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit organization devoted exclusively to representing large employers' perspective on national health policy issues and providing practical solutions to its members' most important health care problems. The Business Group helps drive today's health agenda while promoting ideas for controlling health care costs, improving patient safety and quality of care and sharing best practices in health benefits management with senior benefits, HR professionals, and medical directors from leading corporations. Business Group members, which include 63 Fortune 100 companies, provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. Visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.
