This past March marked one year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Life has changed significantly, and many businesses have made changes. Research on employee wellness after this past year has shown some pretty significant changes. We wanted to share a few of the trends we found helpful from the 2021 Employee Wellness Industry Trend Report from Wellable.
- Mental health is becoming more important. The CDC recently reported that more than 2 in 5 US residents reported struggling with mental or behavioral health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress, anxiety, and depression rates are all rising. Employers are concerned for their employee’s mental health. According to Wellable’s report, nine out of ten organizations planned to invest in more mental health resources for their employees. Another 81% of organizations plan to invest in stress management and resilience support for their teams.
- Mindfulness and Meditation are becoming more popular. Many employers are recognizing the benefits of these practices and are encouraging their employees to try them. 69% of organizations surveyed plan to invest in mindfulness and meditation for their employees.
- COVID-19 safety is still the top priority. The way we interact with one another has dramatically changed. Masks, hand sanitizing, physical distancing, and other safety measures have changed our lives, and they may be here to stay for some time. 92% of organizations surveyed believed that stricter safety measures, sanitary practices, and social distancing guidelines would last throughout this year. Remote work practices, which increased this past year exponentially, are also expected to continue and evolve. 94% of organizations expect to expand virtual wellness services, and another 93% plan to expand virtual employee engagement activities.
The world changed for so many of us last year. Managing mental health and stress is so important, especially during these challenging times. Just like the organizations surveyed for this report, it’s top of mind for us as well. We continue to work hard to make sure that our employees feel supported. It’s part of who we are and the core values we represent.
Recently we asked our employees to share their thoughts on our business and how it feels to work with us. Lloyd Elliot shared this sentiment: “Great company with a great vision for the future. Genuinely cares about their customers, employees, and the communities they serve. Only positive things to say about UMC!” Lloyd’s words are music to our ears. After this hard year, we’re happy to see how far we’ve come, and we hope to continue to grow and learn together as we go forward.
