Gen Xers expect employers to deliver on well-being support, survey says

Dive Brief:

Gen Xers want employers to play an active role in their health: more than 70% agree their company should do more to support holistic health, according to the results of a recent Welltok survey shared with HR Dive Jan. 23. The group surveyed 500 Gen Xers, employed full time, in December 2018. Employers can reinforce loyalty among Gen X employees by offering benefits that meet their personal health and well-being needs, Welltok says.
Nearly all — 90% — of those surveyed said they believe employers should be responsible for helping employees manage stress. More than half of those surveyed said they have "seriously considered" changing jobs because of stress.
Eighty-five percent said that everyone at their company is offered the same health and well-being resources. More than half said they have received irrelevant support, and 84% said they would increase participation in well-being benefits if offered more relevant programs.

Dive Insight:

Prompted by the needs of a multi-generational workforce and the desire to remain competitive in hiring and recruiting, total rewards programs are evolving. Employee well-being programs, for example, have expanded beyond the realm of physical fitness to include financial wellness as well as mental health services, stress management and treatment for chronic health conditions, such as back pain.

Research continues to show that personalization is an important factor in the employee experience. Personalized health benefits is one element that could entice workers to leave their current jobs for more promising opportunities, a 2018 Yoh survey suggested. Seventy-three percent of U.S. workers said in the June 2019 research that health and wellness programs are a consideration in deciding whether to work for a company.

Personalization isn't the only issue for HR to consider when crafting initiatives to meet employee needs. While nearly half of businesses offer some form of wellness initiatives, employees may not know what's available, how to use the services and how to get the most out of programs. Welltok noted in its survey that 14% "strongly agree" they know where to find all of their company-offered health and well-being resources, leaving a large percentage of respondents who couldn't fully endorse that statement.