2024 Workplace Wellness Survey: Top 7 Employee Benefits

In the battle for talent, especially amid shifting workforce dynamics and economic uncertainties, benefits play a pivotal role in not only attracting employees, but also retaining and engaging them long-term. The 2024 Workplace Wellness Survey conducted by the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research reveals the evolving landscape of employee expectations and how organizations can meet these demands.

This comprehensive guide explores the findings from the 2024 survey, identifies notable trends, and provides actionable insights and best practices for organizations to create competitive and meaningful employee benefits packages.

The 2024 Workplace Wellness Survey revealed critical trends in employee priorities, particularly in financial, physical, and emotional well-being. These findings offer a roadmap for employers to address the core concerns of their workforce.

Here are the top three employee priorities from the 2024 survey: 

Despite some improvement, financial well-being continues to be a significant concern for employees. Over 75 percent of workers report struggling with debt, particularly credit card balances, student loans, and rising medical costs. While 54 percent of employees feel equipped to handle a $500 emergency, many are unprepared for larger financial shocks.

Access to affordable healthcare remains a top priority, with 72 percent of respondents ranking health insurance as their most important workplace benefit. For employees managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, robust health insurance plans can mean the difference between financial stability and significant debt.

Employees’ emotional well-being remains a concern, with an average rating of 5.5 out of 10—a slight decrease from previous years. Factors such as workload, burnout, and lack of work-life balance significantly impact mental health. Remote workers often cite isolation and blurred work-life boundaries as primary sources of stress.

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As the 2024 Workplace Wellness Survey indicates, employees value benefits that address immediate needs and align with their long-term personal goals. Let’s dive deeper into the benefits most likely to drive job satisfaction, employee engagement, and loyalty.

Health insurance is consistently the most critical benefit for employees, influencing both job decisions and overall satisfaction. Many employers are increasingly offering telehealth services and wellness stipends to encourage preventative care and reduce long-term costs. Companies like Hulu offer health plans that include wellness programs, coverage for fertility treatments, and gender affirming care. 

Financial security during retirement is a growing concern as more employees take on responsibility for their savings. As a leading organization, you should offer 401(k) plans with employer-matching contributions. Companies like Boeing match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 10 percent of their salary.

Flexibility is no longer a perk, but an expectation. Employees value the ability to work remotely, adopt hybrid schedules, or compress workweeks. For example, Salesforce’s “Success from Anywhere” policy allows employees to choose their work environment, contributing to a 30 percent reduction in turnover rates since implementation.

PTO policies are evolving to address burnout and work-life balance issues. Unlimited PTO policies are gaining popularity, though they require clear communication and manager support to ensure employees feel comfortable taking time off. Implementing “forced PTO” policies or incentivizing vacations can help employees prioritize their well-being. For instance, Airbnb offers employees an annual $2,000 travel stipend, encouraging them to use their PTO to explore new destinations and recharge.

Financial stress is a major productivity killer. Employers are taking proactive steps to support their workforce more holistically when it comes to their finances. Companies like Abbott help employees repay student loans, while contributing to their retirement savings. Other employers like Delta Air Lines match contributions to employee emergency savings accounts, promoting financial resilience.

Mental health resources have become indispensable as awareness of workplace stress and burnout grows. According to the American Psychological Association, companies that invest in mental health see a 300 percent return on investment through increased productivity and reduced absenteeism. For example, Johnson & Johnson provides free access to mindfulness apps, on-site counselors, and dedicated mental health days to support its employees in their mental health.

Employees increasingly value benefits that reflect an organization’s commitment to DEI. Offer support for marginalized groups through mentorship programs, inclusive healthcare policies, and safe spaces for discussion. Accenture’s robust DEI initiatives include gender-neutral parental leave and sponsorship programs for underrepresented employees.

In addition to improving these seven key employee benefits, it’s also important to improve their education and communication. Even the best benefits fail if employees don’t understand or use them. The 2024 survey found that poor communication about benefits contributes to underutilization, with 30 percent of employees unaware of their mental health resources. Use multiple communication channels—emails, webinars, one-on-one consultations, etc.—to educate employees about their available benefits.

Employee benefits are not static; they should continue to evolve just like your technology and products. To stay competitive, organizations must proactively anticipate future needs and employee preferences. Here are examples of three trends to watch and potentially implement as additional benefits.

1. Expanded caregiving support: As caregiving responsibilities grow, benefits like subsidized elder care and flexible schedules will become increasingly important.

2. Sustainability perks: Green benefits, such as public transit subsidies or carbon-offset programs, appeal to environmentally conscious employees.

3. Personalized benefits: AI-driven platforms are enabling employers to offer tailored benefits packages that align with individual employee needs.

The 2024 Workplace Wellness Survey underscores the strategic importance of employee benefits in fostering a thriving, engaged workforce. By addressing financial, physical, and emotional well-being through comprehensive and innovative benefits, organizations can not only attract and retain top talent, but also drive long-term business success.

Investing in employee well-being isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a competitive advantage in the new way of work.

Here are the key takeaways:

• The top seven most valuable employee benefits are health insurance, retirement plans, flexible work, PTO, holistic financial programs, mental health resources, and DEI initiatives.
• Poor communication limits benefit utilization. Employers should use diverse channels like emails, webinars, and one-on-one consultations to inform and educate employees.
• Emerging trends in benefits include expanded caregiving support, sustainability perks, and AI platforms to personalize individual benefits.

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Rebecca Ahn

Rebecca Ahn is a prolific writer, editor, entrepreneur, and business consultant with over a decade of experience launching, managing, and coaching leaders at companies of all sizes—from solopreneurs to startups to 10,000+ employee organizations. Throughout her lengthy and diverse career, she has developed a versatile and varied expertise in all aspects of business and HR operations, leadership development, and content strategy and production across a diverse range of industries including business, HR, tech, fin-tech, hospitality, healthcare, travel, self defense, and entertainment. Rebecca is a passionate people advocate who believes in building strong people, teams, and organizations with transparent culture, content, and communication to facilitate meaningful impact at every level of the workforce and stage of the employee lifecycle. In every endeavor throughout her unconventional career as a professional chameleon and business nerd, her mission has always been to empower and educate others to be more communicative, courageous, and compelling. To not only survive, but thrive, and help those around them to do the same.