Holistic Workplace Wellness

Phoenix-based moving company U-Haul recently announced that it would cease hiring smokers and nicotine users in 21 states beginning February 1. It's a bold and creative strategy to deal with a major health problem.

In order to offer attractive benefits to recruit and retain talent in a tight labor market, more financial investment is now required from companies. It’s not just the rising costs of health insurance, but the demand for more expansive benefits and a holistically-minded approach to well-being.

Editors at Employee Benefits News looked at some of the top trending benefits employees coveted in 2019. Overwhelmingly, employees are most thankful for the benefits that help them lead happier and healthier lives.

Today’s employees are working harder than ever before on achieving their personal wellness goals, but this extra energy has not yielded desired results. Workers want more guidance and support from employer programs to navigate health and financial decisions.

Decades of public awareness campaigns, anti-smoking laws, and court cases have all heavily influenced society’s perception of cigarette use. Consequently, the population of users has steadily decreased over the years—until recently.

Sometimes, simple changes can produce big results. A new report claims that if working adults added an extra 15-minute walk to their daily routine, the world economy could grow by $100 billion per year.

As researchers continue to look for the best ways to encourage lifelong health, evidence continues to show that walking may be an important foundational habit. In a recent study, increased physical activity was linked to better sleep.

As companies look at ways to encourage employees toward holistic well-being, it’s easy to focus on things like physical activity, nutrition, or financial wellness. However, many may not realize the importance of one foundational health issue: sleep.

In an effort to promote work/life balance, Microsoft held a Work Life Choice Challenge in August. By implementing four-day workweeks, Microsoft Japan saw an impressive 40% jump in productivity.