The New Year is a perfect time to hope for the best, to set goals, get motivated, and feel optimistic about the months ahead. And these resolutions aren’t only for individuals—organizations everywhere are vowing to do more for their employees as we launch into another year.

According to MetLife’s 20th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, 86% of employers say they have a responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their employees and 84% indicated that improving the overall health of their employees is a top benefits objective.

86%

of employers say they have a responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their employees.

84%

of employers say that improving the overall health of employees in the workplace is a top benefits objective.

Those intentions are great—but the truth is, just like how most New Year’s goals falter after that initial burst of excitement, an organization-wide focus on wellbeing can fizzle out over time.

Transform New Year’s resolutions into a year-round culture of employee wellbeing

Employees need more help than ever before, but those needs are also very diverse. One person’s unhealthy work-life balance may be another’s lack of exercise, or need for financial guidance, or any number of other health risks. But the problems are there. Since the start of the pandemic:

61%

of adults experienced undesired weight change.

67%

reported unhealthy sleep patterns.

78%

felt a negative impact on their mental health.

That’s why Navigate provides holistic resources—videos, challenges, education, and more—for each area of our 8 Pillars of Wellbeing: balance, community, financial, mindfulness, nutrition, physical, purpose, and social. Employees use holistic resources and platform features to find resources personal to them, which makes their program experience more meaningful.

The physical and mental toll of the pandemic, combined with the ongoing threat of the Great Resignation (more on that in a minute), make it more important than ever to strategize and turn your company’s well-intentioned talk into year-round action. Here are a few ways to do it.

Use survey tools to listen, listen, and listen some more

We talked about the Great Resignation back in August of 2021 and the problem hasn’t gone anywhere. In fact, the number of people quitting their jobs continues to grow, with 47.4 million employees quitting in 2021 alone.

So how do you strengthen or rebuild trust and retain your employees? Asking questions and then actually acting on what you hear will go a long, long way. Create an open dialogue with surveys, frequent communication, and genuine care.

Remain flexible: Times change and so should your program

This is related to item number one. After surveys help you learn what your employees want, need, and expect, you need to actually offer what they’re asking for. That means it is best to avoid boxed solutions and make sure your technology platform is flexible enough to adapt as time goes on.

Create a resource hub that communicates your employee benefits

Do your employees know you care? Is your company culture and message getting through? Despite the steps many companies have taken to do more, there remains a disconnect between what employees want and what management provides.

35%

of workers feel their employer talks about mental health enough.

76%

indicated that companies should do more to protect workers’ mental health.

By showcasing your EAP resources, community benefits, and other resources on one easy-to-use online hub, you can raise awareness of the great things you’re already doing and guide employees to helpful tools they wouldn’t find otherwise.

Boost employee engagement and motivation with rewards

We all need a little motivation when it comes to reaching our health and wellbeing goals. Throw out the standard merch and try something a little more innovative. For example, Navigate’s reward partner Fringe offers unique options from babysitting services for overtaxed parents to app subscriptions for Calm, Headspace, Netflix, and more. With creative rewards, you can help employees associate your brand with their mental relaxation and build loyalty that will last throughout the year.

See how you can use creative benefits to recruit new employees and retain your best.

Sources
MetLife’s 20th annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study 2022: The Rise of the Whole Employee: 20 Years of Change in Employer-Employee Dynamics
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year-pandemic-stress
https://www.oracle.com/a/ocom/docs/oracle-hcm-ai-at-work.pdf
https://www.cnet.com/news/the-great-resignation-is-changing-work-in-america-and-its-here-to-stay/
https://go.ginger.io/annual-behavioral-health-report-2020
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-organizations-can-promote-employee-wellness-now-and-post-pandemic/
https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/are-your-employees-suffering-return-to-office-dread