In today’s competitive job market, employers need to go beyond standard health insurance packages to attract and retain top talent. Many companies are recognizing the value of offering diverse health benefits that address the holistic well-being of their employees.
Work Friendly has helped various clients explore unique offerings to create comprehensive employee benefits packages. Here’s three categories we recommend considering when rethinking health benefits:
Mental Health
Supporting the mental health of your employees is more important than ever. We love when employers consider implementing mental health benefits like the below:
- Counseling Services: Offer access to professional counseling services to help employees manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
- Virtual Therapy: Provide virtual therapy options so employees can access mental health support from the comfort of their homes.
- Meditation Apps: Partner with popular meditation apps to give employees tools for mindfulness and relaxation.
- Mental Health Workshops: Organize workshops focused on mental health awareness and strategies for maintaining mental wellness.
- Mental Health Days: Allow employees to take designated mental health days to recharge and take care of their mental well-being.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Implement an EAP that offers short-term counseling, mental health assessments, and referrals to external services.
Wellness
Promoting physical wellness can lead to healthier, happier, and more productive employees. Consider these wellness benefits outside of the traditional offerings available today:
- Health and Wellness Stipends: Provide stipends that employees can use for wellness-related expenses, such as fitness equipment or healthy meal subscriptions.
- Gym Reimbursement: Offer reimbursement for gym memberships or fitness classes to encourage regular exercise.
- Onsite Fitness Classes: Arrange for onsite fitness classes to make it convenient for employees to engage in physical activity.
- Health Screenings: Conduct regular health screenings to help employees stay on top of their health.
- Massage Therapy or Acupuncture: Provide access to massage therapy or acupuncture sessions to help employees manage stress and physical discomfort.
- Healthy Activity Rewards: Incentivize healthy behaviors by rewarding employees for participating in activities like running, jogging, or biking.
Financial Health
Financial stress can significantly impact an employee’s overall well-being. We encourage employers to consider offering financial benefit support as well:
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): Allow employees to set aside part of their salaries for medical expenses, reducing their taxable income.
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Offer HSAs that enable employees to save for qualified medical expenses, providing them with a financial safety net.
- Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs): Introduce LSAs that give employees a set amount each year for wellness or health-related expenses, offering them flexibility and choice in how they spend their benefits.
By expanding the range of health benefits to include mental health support, wellness programs, and financial health resources, employers can create a more supportive and attractive workplace environment. These unique health benefits not only improve employee well-being but also enhance job satisfaction and retention.
Work Friendly can help transform your company’s health benefits package by assessing your current offerings and exploring how you can incorporate new innovative benefits into your employee programs. Trust us – your workforce will thank you for it.
