As an organization, you strive to create a strategic action plan that champions the physical and emotional wellbeing of your employees — a plan that's an integral part of your comprehensive benefits strategy designed to achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes. The hardest part of that is the initial step. Based on the data in our Workforce Trends Report Series, start with focusing on three important pillars: Preventative Care, Emotional Wellbeing and Caregiving. In the following sections, we delve into integrating these pillars into other critical components that are unique to your organization, benchmarking against industry peers and contemplating initiatives that will reinforce your commitment to your people in the years to come.

Promoting Preventative Care

The data tells us that prioritizing preventative care is a key strategy in shaping the future of your workforce's health and productivity. Preventing the onset of illness and disease or reducing the severity is a fundamental goal of physical and emotional wellbeing initiatives.

By the numbers:

  • Preventative Care and Screening: 56% of organizations actively promote and encourage preventative care to keep their workforce healthy and thriving. Is your organization doing enough to enhance your employees' wellness, or is there room for improvement?
  • Flu Shots: 89% of organizations already offer flu shots as a component of their wellness initiatives. Is your organization prioritizing flu shots to enhance employee health?
  • Biometric Screenings: 46% of organizations include biometric screenings in their wellness strategy to ensure that employees are informed and proactive about their health. Could this be a valuable addition to your initiatives?
  • Utilization Evaluation: 26% of organizations are leveraging data to evaluate the impact of preventative care utilization. Is your organization assessing how well your wellness program is performing?

Emotional Wellbeing in the Workplace

In an ever-evolving landscape of emotional wellbeing, nurturing the mental health of your workforce isn't merely an act of empathy — it's a cornerstone of organizational success. More than 7 in 10 organizations have prioritized the importance of emotional wellbeing in 2023.

By the numbers:

  • Lack of Strategy: 19% of organizations don't have a mental health strategy in place. Is it time for your organization to develop a comprehensive one to support your employees?
  • Manager Referrals: 43% of organizations agree that managers are equipped with mental health support. Is your organization ensuring that managers can offer these essential referrals?
  • Leadership Training: 22% of organizations indicate that they offer training. Are your leaders adequately trained to address the mental health needs of their teams, or is there room for improvement? Check out this resource, Elevating Leadership: The Importance of Mental Health Training in the Workplace.
  • Effectiveness Evaluation: 15% of organizations don't evaluate the impact of their mental health initiatives. Are you measuring the impact of these programs to ensure they make a positive difference for your employees? (Use this Mental Health KPI Checklist to help!)

Caring for the Caregiver

In today's dynamic workplace, supporting caregivers isn't just an act of compassion; it's a strategic advantage. Recent updates to employer policies acknowledge that the scope of caregiving benefits extend far beyond newborns.

By the numbers:

  • Eldercare Resources: 12% of organizations currently provide these resources. Could your organization enhance support for employees caring for elderly loved ones?
  • Caregiver Paid Leave: 13% of organizations offer this lifeline. Are you offering paid caregiver leave to your workforce?
  • New Child/Parent Bonding Leave: 41% of organizations provide this benefit. Is your organization providing parents with bonding leave to create a happier, more productive workforce?
  • Childcare: 14% of organizations offer essential childcare. Could your workplace benefit from providing these vital resources?

As an organization committed to the wellbeing of your employees, you have a unique opportunity to create a strategic action plan that not only promotes physical and emotional health but also redefines the support you offer to them in all facets of their lives. These three pillars are crucial to a comprehensive benefit strategy that can lead to meaningful and measurable improvements — setting your organization towards a brighter, healthier and more successful future.

Sources

*Source for all statistics: Gallagher 2023 Workforce Trends Report

Disclaimer

Consulting and insurance brokerage services to be provided by Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. and/or its affiliate Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc. Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. is a licensed insurance agency that does business in California as "Gallagher Benefit Services of California Insurance Services" and in Massachusetts as "Gallagher Benefit Insurance Services." Neither Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., nor its affiliates provide accounting, legal or tax advice.