Picking the right supplemental wellness benefits for a workforce can be tricky. Employers have to ask themselves: What will have the most impact, and what will end up going unused?
According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, 53 million adults experience a mental health disorder each year (anxiety is the most common) and 2023 data from the American Psychological Association showed that 77% of workers said they had recently been stressed due to their job. It's clear employers need to go beyond standard health insurance by adding benefits that help workers feel good and manage their day-to-day responsibilities. When incorporated correctly, benefits such as gym access, mindfulness resources and flexibility can improve employees' lives.
"My team started using gym subsidies three years ago, and most still take advantage," says V.M., founder of a weight loss company. "The benefit means fewer sick days, better moods and efficiency, and client retention and referrals are higher when employees feel and perform their best. The benefit costs money, but the ROI in productivity, loyalty and healthcare savings outweighs it."
Read more: How to bridge the gap: Discrepancy between talk and action in employee well-being initiatives
To figure out what benefits are best, it helps to hear from the people who have seen results firsthand. Four professionals at various career stages describe the wellness offerings that have made their lives better.
