Employee well-being is more than a talking point. It’s critical for how to retain employees, especially millennial and Generation Z employees. Over 70% of employees in these generations say they would leave their current employer for an organization that emphasizes their well-being. Nearly 70% say their productivity would improve with an employer supporting their wellness. And more than 30% would take less pay to be in a happier, healthier workplace. These figures come from a survey of 10,000 millennial and Gen Z employees by the wellness platform Lifesum.
Understanding younger employees’ wellness priorities
According to the Lifesum survey, millennials and Gen Z employees prioritize physical and mental health to prolong their health longevity.
“Health longevity” is a longer period in which people can maintain physical activity and cognitive acuity as they age.
Younger employees want a better understanding of nutrition and sleep to support these goals. The human resources magazine HRO Today reports that millennials and Gen Z employees seek information on how food, energy, stress and sleep affect their physical and mental health.
The focus on mental health is particularly critical. A white paper from the management consultancy Deloitte shows younger generations are struggling with mental health. Forty percent of Gen Z and 35% of millennial employees say they are stressed or anxious most or all of the time.
Benefits supporting workplace well-being
According to a survey by Georgetown University and Bank of America, paid time off and flexible work schedules are the top workplace well-being benefits young adults are seeking.
Additional benefits that take a whole-person approach to employee wellness can further support your younger employees. Offerings include:
- Affordable and accessible mental health benefits
- Employee assistance program resources
- Gift cards for healthy meal deliveries
- Mindfulness and mental health apps
- Online fitness classes and gym memberships
- On-site and online cooking classes
- Personalized nutrition programs
- Sleep apps and education
- Stress management tools
Well-being is good for employees and employers
The statistics on how to retain employees from younger generations highlight the importance of well-being benefits. But employee wellness is good for all employees and organizations. According to a global survey by the management consultancy WTW, employers focused on well-being are twice as likely to report better employee engagement, productivity, and financial outcomes.