As we head deeper into the new year, you may be wondering: what health benefits can I provide to my employees for a more enjoyable workplace experience?
2021 brought us the “Great Resignation,” a term used to describe the wave of people quitting their jobs due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which led many to re-think where, how and why we work. In fact, a whopping 38 million people quit their jobs last year, bringing about a major worker shortage and hiring struggle.
This tight labor market has pushed companies to offer better benefits in order to retain current employees and attract new hires. As we move further into 2022, take a look at these five employee health benefits trends that we’re expecting to see from employers this year to help you step up your own corporate offerings.
Mental health programs
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have taken a toll on many individuals’ mental health, especially young professionals. Two-thirds of millennials who left their jobs in 2021 cited mental health reasons, according to a Mind Share Partners survey, and the proportion for Gen Z was even higher, at 81%.
As a result, employers are spending more money on mental health initiatives. The 2022 Employee Wellness Industry Trends Report released by Wellable Labs found that 90% of employers reported increasing their investment in mental health programs this year. While many companies have long offered employee assistance programs (EAPs), which provide access to a fixed number of counseling or therapy sessions, today employers are expanding their well-being benefits to include subscriptions to meditation apps, tele-mental health sessions, and mental health stipends.
Physical health programs
Physical health benefits programs have been looking a little different since the COVID-19 pandemic. Although employers are continuing to cover things like gym memberships as a part of their benefits package, many are now offering stipends for in-home gyms or virtual fitness subscriptions.
Giving your remote workers access to physical health programs is critical to their well-being. A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that working-from-home is associated with “decreased overall physical and mental well-being,” as a result of workers getting less physical exercise, eating a poorer diet, communicating less with coworkers, and having to work with children at home and other distractions.
Financial wellness programs
Nearly 7 out of 10 (69%) people say the pandemic has intensified their financial stress. However, 80% of people who feel their employers are committed to helping them strengthen their financial resiliency are more likely to stay with the employer. As a result, it’s no surprise that companies are starting to offer financial wellness benefits.
Some financial wellness benefits include one-on-one meetings with certified financial planners, tips on taxes, financial literacy education, and digital platforms and applications, among others.
Childcare assistance
Between daycares shutting down for most of 2020 and finding safe in-home options that don’t break the bank, figuring out the childcare puzzle has been a hurdle for working parents. In fact, a survey from Care.com reported that 85% of working parents do not have childcare benefits. However, two-thirds of the same group said they would trade sick days, vacation days, dental plans, and retirement plans for childcare benefits. Furthermore, 60% of employees said if they received childcare benefits, their job performance would improve.
If your organization doesn’t offer any childcare benefits, it might be a good idea to look into it this year. From stipends to cover the costs of a nanny or babysitter to offering on-site childcare options, it’s time to get creative about the ways that your benefits suite can support the parents on your team.
On-site Healthcare
With the number of remote workers at an all-time high, it’s no question that employees are searching for ways to save time. Whether that’s cutting down on their daily commute by working from their living room or by scheduling an eye appointment with 20/20 Onsite! 20/20 Onsite’s Mobile Vision Clinic can travel to wherever you or your patients need us. We can come directly to your office or neighborhood to deliver high-quality eye care without the need for employees to take time off to travel to and from their doctor’s office.
Work With Us
At 20/20 Onsite, we can help you give your employees the health benefits that they deserve! If you have any questions about how to improve your health and wellness benefits in 2022 with on-site eye care, get in touch with us today.
