Wellness is part of the gig.
What’s happening: Wellhub’s Work-Life Wellness Report reveals rising expectations—and growing dissatisfaction—among employees.
Circling back. Employee well-being dropped 9% from last year, with just 54% reporting positively. Nearly 90% experience burnout, 53% feel more stressed, and most say sustained energy and focus are unattainable.
Doing the work. Nonnegotiable, 86% value well-being as much as salary. Taking back time, 82% report working less for better balance. Exercise (led by running and lifting), sleep, hangouts, and eating well gapped other self-care strategies by 20+ points.
Making space. Workers are escaping to gyms, wellness clinics, run clubs, and hobby-led fourth spaces — with 91% stepping out to offset work pressure while a third cite community as the top draw. Seeking accountability, most use apps weekly to track performance and bridge IRL connection.
Ask HR. Despite widespread acknowledgment that well-being drives job performance, only 14% of employees have access to structured wellness programs — a 21% difference-maker in satisfaction. Fed up with poor perks, over half say their expectations have increased since last year, and <30% say existing benefits are good.
Boosting the bottom line, employers see platforms like Wellhub and EGYM’s Wellpass as part of the solution.
Filling gaps, menopause support from Midi and Maven, autoimmune care from WellTheory, and an employee health OS from Superpower are scaling up.
Looking ahead: Strapped for time, employers must give Paid Time On, empowering employees with tools, structure, and spaces to elevate their well-being — personally and professionally.
