If “balance” is the benefits buzzword of the day, “wellness” would come in a close second.

Two decades ago, Canadian employers that could afford to were building onsite fitness facilities so employees could work out during their workdays. These days, companies are more likely to offer wellness programs that promote health to a diverse workforce.

“State-of-the-art fitness centres don’t address the needs of a diverse workforce,” says Joe Doiran, senior policy analyst at the Centre for Health Promotion, part of the Public Health Agency of Canada in Ottawa. In fact, they are most likely to serve the employees who are already healthy and active. “The greatest benefit to a population’s health level, in terms of return on investment, to health — and, for an employer, to the bottom line — is from moving those who are sedentary to moderate physical activity,” he says. To that end, employers now emphasize wellness rather than fitness.

“We have a focus on wellness,” says Caroline Blouin, director of pensions and benefits at Royal Bank of Canada. “RBC wants to encourage employees to have healthy lifestyles and take active roles in their health.”

To that end, the company has launched a Web site, Living Well, that provides information on health-related issues and features profiles of employees who live healthy, active lives. Employees can also use an online assessment tool that outlines how nutrition, fitness and lifestyle choices affect their health. More than 10,000 employees each received $50 in their health-care spending accounts for completing the survey last year. As well, RBC runs contests to promote healthy living, and will launch an employee nutrition campaign this spring.

Here are some other wellness initiatives at financial services companies:

> Investors Group Inc.: Fitness challenges tied to its walk/run charity event; onsite yoga and Pilates lessons; a wellness expo; electronic information on lifestyle topics (elder care, blended families). “It’s not the whole answer, and we’re not trying to replace services that are out there,” notes Richard Irish, assistant vice president of community affairs.

> Fidelity investments canada ltd.: Fitness subsidies; lunch-and-learn seminars on a variety of wellness topics.

> Aim Funds Management Inc.: A corporate gym; a wellness committee that promotes healthy living, run by company volunteers.

> Bank Of Montreal: “People care days,” at the discretion of management, for employees to deal with unexpected family illness, elder care, parent/teacher meetings and moving; elder-care services; multi-purpose quiet rooms in Toronto and Montreal locations to accommodate employees’ needs for private retreats for prayer, meditation or nursing.

> CIBC: A Wellness Checkpoint online assessment tool that provides information on achieving a healthier lifestyle; discounts with health-care providers; counselling and professional advice through its employee assistance program.

— WENDY CUTHBERT