Supporting Employee Health in 2025: A Guide for Forward-Thinking Employers

Supporting Employee Health in 2025: A Guide for Forward-Thinking Employers
The New Year often sparks a renewed focus on health, and for many Gen Z workers, this isn’t just a resolution—it’s a year-round priority. From addressing mental health to combating loneliness, Gen Z employees are leading the charge in reshaping workplace expectations around well-being. Employers have a unique opportunity to adapt their strategies and make health a cornerstone of their workplace culture, benefiting employees across all generations.
Gen Z’s Approach to Health
Gen Z workers bring health and wellness into sharp focus. They’ve demonstrated a willingness to take mental health and have started normalizing conversations about mental well-being. Yet, challenges remain and social media plays a dual role, serving as both a source of stress and a tool for accessing mental health resources.
Resolutions for Workplace Well-Being
According to McKinsey & Company’s “Mind the Gap” insights on Gen Z in the Workplace, business leaders can prioritize employee health (across all generations) in 2025 by doing 3 things:
1. Expand Access to Mental Health Resources
Employers can:
- Offer wellness apps and digital mental health programs.
- Provide stress management training and physical wellness initiatives.
- Host office connectivity events to foster a sense of belonging.
- Implement policies aimed at reducing burnout.
Making mental health support accessible—both digitally and in-person—can help all employees thrive.
2. Support Women’s Health
Employers can:
- Offer benefits tailored to women’s unique health needs, such as menopause support.
- Review workplace policies to ensure they accommodate the realities of women’s health during their prime working years.
- Addressing systemic barriers can create a healthier, more inclusive work environment for women across all generations.
3. Take a Holistic Approach to Benefits
Health is more than just physical—it’s influenced by social interaction, mindset, productivity, stress, financial security, and sleep. Employers can assess these areas to identify opportunities for improvement, such as:
- Promoting social interaction to combat loneliness.
- Enhancing economic security through financial wellness programs, financial tools, and financial education.
- Stress management education, tools, and proactive policies.
Focusing on these drivers not only boosts employee well-being but can also lead to happier, more productive teams.
The Big Picture
Investing in employee health isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business move. Research suggests that improving global workforce health could generate an additional $4.2 billion in economic impact. By prioritizing health initiatives, employers can unlock greater productivity, job satisfaction, and retention.
For forward-thinking companies, 2025 is the year to take employee health seriously. After all, healthier employees create healthier workplaces—and that’s a resolution worth keeping.