Dive Brief:

• Employers are moving away from an ineffective “one-size-fits all” approach to wellness and toward a more holistic view of total well-being. But employers also continue to look for ways to reduce healthcare costs, including having employees play a larger role in their personal healthcare decisions. Wellness is part of the answer for many, with over two-thirds of U.S. employers now offering wellness initiative.

• Suzannah Gill, a benefits strategy consultant with EPIC's Employee Benefits practice, explained that beyond health, urgent needs such as financial stress, an aging parent requiring care or exhaustion from caring for a sick child have taken center stage in wellness. 

• Gill writes that to hit the critical goals of increased productivity, enhanced engagement and reduced healthcare costs, employers will need to adopt a holistic approach, or be left behind by competitors. 

Dive Insight:

Gill offers some best practices in getting there, including assessing workers and their families and offering programs that fit their needs. Employers should also ask employees about the causes of stress that impact them and not be afraid of taking a multi-year strategic approach to find solutions. Technology will be key when moving away from a "check-the-box" approach in favor of more robust program, she added.

Both financial and mental wellness have both garnered attention as of late, with more companies coming forward with financial wellness solutions and more attention being paid to employees who struggle with mental health issues.