The pandemic may no longer be exerting the influence it once had on mental health, but its effects are still palpable in 2022 when many employees are returning to their offices following an extended remote work situation. Research published by Your Well Space shows that around 33% of customer service staff regularly feel emotionally exhausted at work, while 41% say that stress makes them less productive. A smaller percentage (15%) of people surveyed said that they were looking for new employment owing to stress. Savvy companies are taking workplace wellness seriously, with many looking to new well-being trends to keep employees engaged, motivated, and loyal to their teams. Below are just a few trends to watch out for.

Injury Prevention as a Way to Preserve Workplace Happiness and Productivity

Workplace injuries can dramatically affect employee well-being and productivity. Physical injuries are closely linked to depression and anxiety. As such, they can cause fatigue, trouble concentrating, chronic pain, panic attacks, and even cognitive impairments. Savvy companies are therefore making injury prevention a major priority in boosting staff well-being. Embracing healthy work hours and flexibility, encouraging healthy diets and physical activity, and giving workers time off to rest and recover are all seen as crucial parts of building healthy, happy, stress-free teams that reach all their goals with aplomb.

Expanding Mental Health Benefits

A recent Robert Half survey of over 1,000 US employees has shown that around 29% feel that their employer does not provide the mental health resources they need to feel supported. Savvy companies are upping their offerings by giving paid time off for mental health days, expanding mental health perks, and encouraging open communication about mental health at work. Many are also holding mental health workshops so that employees know who to turn to, what resources are available, and what changes can be effected to boost their well-being. This can be particularly relevant when they are undergoing a high-stress moment in their lives or when they are battling issues like anxiety or depression.

Embracing Telemedicine

Employers are using telemedicine as a way for professional health workers to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients in a faster more effective way. Telehealth levels the playing field across the US by giving staff easy, private, access to healthcare without the need to commute or disrupt their work schedule. This technology instills calm in staff who know that they can always have the help they need, without having to endure long waits. Telemedicine is also an excellent way to stay on track with medication, treatment, and other options that can change the employee’s specific situation.

Personalized Wellness

Personalization is everything when it comes to mental health, since each employee may have very specific needs or strategies that work best for them. For instance, over 53% of employers are planning to invest in more on-demand workout classes and self-care subscriptions. Workers enjoy having the chance to choose between these options and the flexibility to engage with each service as and when they feel the need to.

Workplace wellness is a vital way to keep workers focused and boost their productivity. Just a few trends holding sway include injury prevention and expanded mental health benefits. Telemedicine is an excellent way to shorten access to health care, while personalized benefits enable employees to truly feel heard, treated, and healed.