10 Employee Wellness Trends To Watch In 2024

Transforming workplace health and well-being

 

From addressing burnout to valuing practical benefits, ten leading professionals share their insights on the next big thing in employee wellness. These thought leaders offer a diverse range of perspectives on trends that could redefine health in the workplace in 2024. Discover the full spectrum of innovative strategies below.
 

Addressing Burnout with Cultural Change

The biggest well-being epidemic I see when I look at the workplace today is the overall feeling of burnout. When people feel burned out, they don't contribute as much or as well and are out sick more often. How do we solve this in our do-more-with-less environment? The solution may be simpler than often thought—humans want to feel genuinely cared about, that we are doing work we feel proud of, and we are all more than employees.

So, by implementing small changes in your culture and workday, you can show how much you care and start to solve burnout. Small changes include asking someone, "How are you?" and genuinely meaning it; saying thank you and genuinely appreciating their contributions; encouraging (and then keeping sacred) vacation time; and providing flexibility for the time that life takes. And none of this needs to cost anything, yet the rewards received back are limitless.
 

Angela Heyroth, Principal, Talent Centric Designs

 

Cultivating a Genuine Culture of Care

In 2024, "box ticking" and "nice-to-have" well-being programs will be out, as organizations are now expected to demonstrate they are providing a "culture of care" as an essential requirement. It is a legal requirement under WHS (work health and safety) laws to provide a mentally healthy workplace, so businesses can no longer just "tick a box" when it comes to the mental fitness of their employees.

Post-pandemic, employees want to feel valued and connected to their employer. They also want to play an active role in shaping well-being programs to suit their individual needs. Organizations that genuinely engage employees, nurture a sense of belonging, involve them in program design, and prioritize continuous incremental improvements in work-life balance will meet the moment.

Introducing Mental Health First Aid training in the workplace will continue to play a pivotal role in promoting and facilitating early "help-seeking" as part of the framework to promote a mentally healthy workplace.
 

Suzi Evans, Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, Founder, Author, KAIZEN Business Support

 

Belonging as the Key to Employee Engagement

Given that working from home and hybrid work models are here to stay, employees need opportunities to connect with co-workers more than ever. The need for social belonging—for seeing oneself as socially connected—is a basic human motivation, according to psychology professors Gregory Walton and Geoffrey Cohen. In fact, in 2018, Culture Amp found that having a strong sense of belonging is the biggest driver of employee engagement.

Consequently, organizations need to focus on belonging, not as a trend, but as a culture. This is especially true for employees from underrepresented backgrounds. One way to foster belonging is to plan inclusive team events that do not always involve alcohol (due to health, religion, and/or recovery), are sometimes scheduled during work hours (so it doesn't burden caretakers), and do not discuss work (because you don't want these activities to give insider knowledge, mentorship, or opportunities only to those who can make time outside of work).
 

Nancy Wang Yuen, Managing DEI Consultant, Peoplism

 

Supporting Family Planning in the Workplace

One emerging employee wellness trend that organizations can take note of in 2024 is advocating for family planning and extending post-pregnancy support for both men and women.

Many working women choose to start families later due to prioritizing career development in their 20s. This delay can create concerns about job security and commitment, as well as their physical well-being, posing a challenge for women aiming to progress in their careers while also planning for families.

Organizations need to encourage family planning by implementing flexible policies that support women in planning pregnancies during their healthiest years, in their 20s or early 30s. Additionally, they should provide flexibility for men to participate in caring for newborns and supporting their partners, fostering a fairer environment.

By accommodating these needs, organizations can contribute to the creation of more balanced families, promoting not only physical but also mental well-being.
 

Arundhati Chafekar, Principal Consultant, Vertical Lead – Learning and Strengths, NamanHR

 

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Mindfulness Breaks Boosting Workplace Health

As a wellness leader, one of the emerging employee wellness trends that organizations should pay attention to in 2024 is the focus on small breaks for mindfulness. Leaders of an organization should always try to encourage their team members to take regular brief breaks for their mental wellness.

This fosters a healthy workplace by helping employees overcome their stress, boosting focus, and enhancing the overall mental health of the employees. Thus, this contributes to an increase in job satisfaction, increases productivity, and minimizes burnout.
 

Dr. Thanu Jey, Medical Director and Founder, MediBrace

 

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Personalized Wellness Strategies Gaining Traction

There doesn't seem to be a standard around wellness, as it means different things to different leaders. I see more and more organizations creating wellness strategies based on assessments, research, and KPIs (key performance indicators), and this will impact the workplace positively because it won't be just a "tick-the-box" exercise but rather something that is needed.
 

Lubna Forzley, Founder and CEO, Stories

 

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Mental Health Taking Center Stage

In 2024, organizations should prioritize their attention to an emerging employee wellness trend—the growing emphasis on mental health support and resources. This shift reflects a recognition of the importance of nurturing and safeguarding employees' mental well-being.

According to the World Health Organization, mental health disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with depression alone affecting over 264 million people globally. As awareness of mental health increases, it is recognized that a healthy workplace encompasses physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Employee wellness programs now go beyond physical health, acknowledging the significance of mental health support, especially in the context of remote work and blurred work-life boundaries. Organizations are now prioritizing mental health by investing in programs and resources for their employees.
 

Ryan Hetrick, CEO, Epiphany Wellness

 

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Embracing Neurodiversity in Work Environments

An essential wellness trend for 2024 is the genuine integration of neurodiversity-friendly practices in workplaces.

Beyond just workshops, this involves company-wide screening assessments, offering workplace adjustments, and even reviewing products for inclusivity. Microsoft's neurodiversity hiring program is a prime example, but this trend extends beyond tech. Industries like finance and law are starting to catch up, and I worked with an international law firm earlier this year that saw a significant positive impact from adopting neurodiversity-friendly hiring practices and policies.

It's about recognizing and valuing individual strengths and supporting difficulties to create a more dynamic and effective workforce. Such practices lead to higher productivity, improved employee well-being, and retention.
 

Dr. Anna Patricia McLaughlin, Neuroscientist and Founder, Sci-translate

 

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Shared Leadership Trending as a Wellness Innovation

As a recruiter working in the executive sphere, I'm noticing a recent wellness trend with the potential to upend the sector. It's identified by various nomenclatures—co-leadership, shared leadership, joint leadership—but the idea remains the same: diffused responsibility.

With benefits like unlimited PTO on the rise, companies are looking for ways to balance workforce consistency with the mental and physical health of their employees, and some are settling on what you might call an understudy team.

These people may sit in the wings or move through the company as a jack-of-all-trades. They're well-known, well-liked, and able to step up at a moment's notice.

Suddenly, executives who've not taken a sick day in years feel emboldened to book a vacation or sabbatical.

Since benefits are only good insofar as they're used, this is a big step forward for anyone concerned that their policy is more technical than practical.
 

Travis Hann, Partner, Pender & Howe

 

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Practical Benefits Trumping Flashy Perks

As a recruiter, I'm privy to emerging wellness trends, and I have to say that they're not all created equally. When I'm counseling a candidate on benefits, it's often the flashier perks that fall flat. What looks good on paper isn't always usable in the real world, so things like group nature retreats and in-office hot yoga wind up meaning little.

What candidates do prefer are basic benefits ramped up: paid time off (PTO), in particular. I'm seeing more and more companies offer unlimited PTO, and that's a big draw for employees who don't like to feel under scrutiny when a personal emergency or sickness comes up.

I think that as 2024 gets going, we'll see a renewed focus on PTO and an eschewing of gimmicky and under-used benefits that only appeal in concept.
 

Linn Atiyeh, CEO, Bemana

Brett Farmiloe is the Founder/CEO and currently the CHRO at  Featured.