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Working in a current world setup impacts our mental health and well-being. Several organizations have wellness programs encouraging employees to work in a healthy environment promoting better mental health. But how will work wellness look in 2024? In this blog, we’ll talk about the future of work wellness with 9 trends.
Adapting to Changing Needs Amidst a Shifting Landscape of Work Wellness
The past year has seen dramatic changes in the working world, and these changes will continue to shape the future of workplace wellness in 2024.
In-person work will return in some capacity, but the pandemic has also highlighted the value of flexible schedules and remote work.
HR teams and leaders will need to balance the needs of team members while creating a supportive work environment that prioritizes mental and physical well-being.
Companies like Salesforce, Google, and Amazon have been at the center of workplace trends, with CEOs and HR leaders leveraging their influence to promote sustainability, mindfulness, and other wellness initiatives.
Additionally, younger generations like Gen Z and millennials drive change, pushing for a company culture valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion. This shift towards a more mindful and supportive work environment will continue in 2024.
As the tight labor market persists, companies must differentiate by offering competitive benefits and prioritizing employee well-being.
It could include childcare benefits, personalized wellness programs, and flexible schedules that allow employees to prioritize their mental and physical health.
Work Wellness for the Win: Benefits of a Healthy Workplace
Organizations with the best well-being programs report higher employee retention, engagement, and recruitment. That is not a magic trick! There is a lot of hard work to create a healthy workplace.
Today, companies focus on retention rather than recruitment by offering more competitive wellness benefits to existing employees.
Companies see a shift in employees’ behavior as they prioritize sleep, exercise, and social interaction to improve decision-making, long-term memory, and cognition.
Moreover, employers are investing more in financial education, tuition reimbursement, child/elder caregiving benefits, personalized credit, debt counseling, and money management tools.
It has led to higher employee engagement and retention.
So, it is not a surprise! Organizations have started investing in employee well-being. The benefits of a healthy workplace are vast—improved health outcomes for employees mean less absenteeism and lower healthcare costs.
Furthermore, employees working in a healthy environment are happier and healthier.
A survey indicated that 70% of employees report work satisfaction with the presence of a wellness program.
HR teams must work closely with the C-suite to ensure these benefits align with the company’s priorities.
The Global Wellness Summit predicts that the future of wellness will prioritize mental well-being with greater emphasis on preventative measures and mindfulness practices.
As we move towards a hybrid work model, HR teams must find ways to support in-person and remote employees and promote a culture of health and wellness across the company.
Future of Work Wellness With Artificial Intelligence (AI)
…a 100-person organization that provides an average salary of $50,000 could have turnover and replacement costs of approximately $660,000 to $2.6 million per year.
Says Gallup
That is huge!
As a result, companies are focusing on retention rather than recruitment by offering more competitive wellness benefits.
The global wellness trends for 2024 focus on collective wellness, emphasizing community health over individuals.
These programs offer financial incentives and other perks like fitness classes and meditation sessions, which benefit overall mental health and happiness.
With artificial intelligence (AI), companies can track employee wellness and health data in real-time.
Here, AI helps to identify trends for employers to adjust their wellness programs.
AI-powered tools can boost productivity, improve employee health and wellness, and improve workplace relationships.
AI-enabled wearables integrated with deep learning models, natural language processing, and voice and image recognition can monitor and analyze employee behavior and emotions.
Besides workplace relationships, AI can also improve employee well-being through office design.
Office areas that leverage AI provide opportunities for customization and personalization and create spaces that feel open for endless possibilities, creativity, and innovation.
Here are some AI-powered employee wellbeing platforms for you to explore better work wellness.
Workplace Wellness 2024 Trends
- Supporting Mental Health
- New Paid Time Off (PTO) Options
- Employee-Centric Workplace Wellness Programs
- Better Health Schemes for Employees
- Hybrid Work Models for better Work Wellness
- Mental Health Training for Managers
- Financial Wellness Programs
- Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Workplace Design for Work Wellness
Organizations are turning towards employee wellness programs to address health and wellness risks in employees. These programs are becoming more serious, scientific-backed, and socially acceptable.
Moreover, in 2024, employee wellness trends are likely to be dominated by technology-enabled health services. Digital health will make employee wellness accessible and affordable for all.
Here are 9 trends to watch out for,
1) Supporting Mental Health
Employee mental health is increasingly becoming a key focus in employee wellness programs.
In 2024, organizations will increase efforts to provide resources and support for mental health. It includes initiatives focusing on reducing workplace stressors and improving employee communications.
2) New Paid Time Off (PTO) Options
Along with the old PTO options, 2024 may see new ways to take time off work. Employees can benefit from this.
Here are some ongoing PTO options,
- Set PTO dates per year
- Accrued time off
- PTO rollover to next year
- Banked PTO
In 2024, we can see companies approving,
- Unlimited PTOs
- PTO in 1-week chunks
- PTO loading into 401k
- Mental Health Breaks (Mandatory No calls, No work from office)
3) Employee-Centric Workplace Wellness Programs
To make employee wellness a key part of the workplace culture, 2024 may see companies implementing employee-centric wellness programs. These programs will help track employees’ health and well-being.
| Wellness Work Program | Benefits | Resources |
| Mental Health | – Reduced absenteeism – Improved employee morale and job satisfaction – Increased productivity and performance | – EAP (Employee Assistance Program) – Mental health training and workshops – Mental health resources and counseling |
| Telemedicine | – Convenient access to healthcare – Reduced healthcare costs – Improved employee health and well-being | – Virtual doctor consultations – Health and wellness apps – Online health resources |
| Stress Management/Resilience | – Improved mental and physical health – Increased employee engagement and satisfaction – Reduced absenteeism and turnover | – Stress management workshops and training – Meditation and relaxation resources – Employee wellness programs |
| Mindfulness and Meditation | – Reduced stress and anxiety – Improved focus and productivity – Enhanced creativity and innovation | – Meditation and mindfulness training – Guided meditation resources – Mindfulness apps and tools |
4) Better Health Schemes for Employees
In 2024, employers may implement better employee health schemes using technology, data analysis, and personalized approaches.
Employers can use wearable devices to track employees’ physical activity, sleep patterns, and other health metrics.
Also, using this data, employers can create customized wellness plans for each employee.
Additionally, employers can leverage telemedicine platforms and mobile health apps to provide convenient and accessible healthcare services to their employees.
Employers can create a culture of wellness and improve the health and well-being of their workforce by taking a proactive and personalized approach to employee health.
5) Hybrid Work Models for better Work Wellness
Hybrid work models are quickly gaining popularity as companies look for new ways to reduce overhead expenses and increase productivity.
Also, remote work allows employees to work from anywhere, providing benefits like flexible working hours, no commute, and higher productivity.
By offsetting costs like office rental, employers can save on overhead expenses. Remote work also allows recruiters to pull from a more diverse candidate pool.
In most cases, hybrid work models are likely to outperform remote work in terms of employee retention and overall profitability.
6) Mental Health Training for Managers
Providing mental health training for managers is crucial for promoting a healthy and supportive work environment.
Additionally, managers must create a psychological safety culture, support employees’ mental health needs, and identify early warning signs of mental health issues.
| Training Topic | Hours | Description |
| Introduction to Mental Health | 2 | Understanding the basics of mental health and common mental health disorders in the workplace. |
| Stress Management | 3 | Identifying the causes and effects of workplace stress and developing strategies for managing stress in the workplace. |
| Workplace Wellbeing | 2 | Promoting healthy lifestyle choices and creating a supportive work environment for employees’ wellbeing. |
| Mental Health First Aid | 8 | Developing the skills and knowledge to identify, assess, and provide initial help to someone experiencing a mental health crisis. |
| Supporting Employees with Mental Health Issues | 4 | Understanding mental health accommodations, the process of accommodations, and how to support employees with mental health issues. |
| Communication Skills for Mental Health Support | 3 | Developing effective communication skills when supporting employees with mental health issues, including active listening, empathy, and effective feedback. |
| Creating a Mentally Healthy Workplace | 4 | Developing strategies to create a supportive, inclusive, and stigma-free workplace culture that promotes mental health and wellbeing. |
| Self-Care for Managers | 2 | Developing self-care strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and maintain mental wellbeing as a manager. |
Additionally, mental health training can help managers develop the skills to support employees in crisis and provide referrals for professional support when needed.
Furthermore, organizations can create a more compassionate and supportive workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being by providing mental health training for managers.
7) Financial Wellness Programs
Financial wellness is vital for everyone to maintain stability and lifestyle. Here are some programs which employers plan for in 2024.
| Financial Wellness Topics | Suggestive Programs |
| Financial Education | Online courses, workshops, webinars |
| Retirement Planning | Retirement calculators, investment advice, access to planning professionals |
| Debt Management | Debt management programs, counseling services, financial coaching |
| Employee Assistance Programs | Financial counseling, debt management, budgeting assistance |
| Employee Savings Plans | 401(k) plans, matching contributions |
8) Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
DEI includes creating an environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Furthermore, employers should focus on employee retention by ensuring employees are happy in their current roles and management proactively addresses workplace issues.
Additionally, employers can promote a financial wellness culture by providing resources like budgeting advice, debt consolidation tips, and retirement planning assistance.
9) Workplace Design for Work Wellness
Good workplace design significantly impacts employee well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational performance.
Moreover, an important consideration in workplace design is the layout and organization of the physical space.
An open floor plan can promote collaboration and communication, while designated quiet areas can provide employees with the space to focus and concentrate.
Additionally, ergonomic furniture and equipment can reduce the risk of workplace injuries and support employee health and comfort.
Another important aspect of workplace design is the integration of technology. Providing employees access to cutting-edge technology and equipment can help streamline workflows and increase efficiency.
In addition to physical design features, workplace design can incorporate cultural and social elements like art installations, green spaces, and communal areas.
These design elements can help promote community connection, fostering a positive company culture.
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Conclusion
The future of work wellness is bright.
Besides, artificial intelligence is making wellness programs more efficient and effective than ever before.
Also, wellness has become everyone’s responsibility, and employee wellness support systems are evolving to ensure employees have everything they need to lead a healthy life at work.
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