Like many organizations, your workplace likely looks very different after everything that unfolded this past year. Whether your company shifted to a permanent remote work model, continued operations with essential workers, reopened physical offices, or managed a largely deskless workforce, change has been unavoidable.
Now that 2020 is behind us, attention is turning toward employee health and well-being. Even if your workforce remains remote through the first half of 2021, investing in employee well-being programs has never been more important. According to WebMD® Health Services, nearly half of employers consider health and well-being initiatives a core part of their workforce strategy, and 65% plan to expand these programs in 2021.
Let’s take a closer look at three major well-being trends shaping the workplace.
Trend 1: Financial Health
Financial stress remains a major concern for many employees. Heavy debt, limited emergency savings, and uncertainty about retirement planning are common challenges. During times of economic instability, employees increasingly look to their employers for support.
Providing access to financial wellness tools can make a meaningful difference. Employers can support financial well-being through financial literacy programs, budgeting education, retirement planning guidance, and resources focused on managing debt and day-to-day expenses. These efforts can help employees regain stability and reduce stress during uncertain times.
Trend 2: Emotional and Mental Health Support
According to the American Psychiatric Association, nearly 25% of employees have been diagnosed with depression, with many missing an average of 10 workdays each year as a result. The pandemic has intensified these challenges—by mid-2020, more than half of U.S. adults reported a negative impact on their mental health due to COVID-19.
Research from the Business Group on Health shows growing interest in employer-sponsored mental health services, including stress management programs, mental health apps, mindfulness tools, and wellness platforms. However, a MetLife survey found that nearly 60% of employees believe their employer’s mental health offerings either don’t meet their needs or are difficult to understand or access.
This highlights an important gap. Simply offering mental health resources isn’t enough—employers must also work to reduce stigma, clearly communicate available benefits, and make mental health support easy to access and use.
Trend 3: Personalized Health and Well-Being Solutions
When it comes to employee wellness, quality matters more than quantity. No matter how many programs you offer, a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. A growing trend in workplace wellness is customized well-being solutions tailored to the unique needs of your workforce.
Understanding employee needs and aligning programs accordingly leads to better engagement and outcomes. Partnering with experienced health and well-being consultants, such as those from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, can help organizations design effective, targeted wellness strategies.
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