This year has put an unprecedented strain on our lives, affecting us in many ways, both big and small. With 2021 right around the corner, we understand our journey through the pandemic is not yet over, and that challenges still lie ahead. So, when looking at well-being in 2021, the trends reflect many things we’ve seen this year as a result of the pandemic. Let’s look at the biggest well-being trends for next year:
Mental health awareness
By July of 2020, more than half of all American adults said their mental health had been negatively impacted due to the pandemic. Over 30% of those surveyed said stress was affecting how they were eating and sleeping. To stay connected, some organizations are thinking of creative ways to engage employees. Some examples include:
- Check-in calls where employees are asked how they are and given resources if needed
- Parent-specific group to discuss issues and ideas around parenting during a pandemic
- Five-minute music breaks on virtual platform; music is shown to address stress and increase happiness
- Channel to share favorite movies, books, exercise videos or meditations
Financial well-being resources
A 2020 financial wellness trends study found 42% of employers are currently offering financial well-being programs to their employees. The most popular components of a financial well-being program reported by the study were:
- Online retirement tools
- Financial planning tools
- Protection products such as life, disability and medical insurance
- Access to a financial advisor for financial planning
Support virtual employees
The social element of many workplaces has taken on a different look this year. Employees may work in a socially distanced environment from home or a mix of both. Here are some ways the well-being of virtual employees can be supported:
- Incorporated movement into meetings
- Reimagine the home office to include nature, standing desks and good lighting
- Online fitness
- Continued focus on sleep
- Digitalization of our connection
Learn more about what industry experts see as upcoming trends in well-being in this Blue Cross® Virtual Well-Being webinar. You can also sign up for future employer-focused and general interest webinars here, where you’ll also find past sessions and resources. Related: Create a Blue Zone Office Encourage Vision Well-being Help Your Employees Prevent and Better Manage Diabetes Photo credit: Nicola Katie
