3 Employee Wellness Trends to Watch in 2021
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect employees well beyond the immediacy of the initial crisis. As an employer, you have a unique ability and responsibility to manage your benefit providers, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and health insurance plans to ensure your workers have access to the help and support they need. Having your workers know you are here to support them through these difficult times can make a world of difference for their mental and physical health. Your Human Resources team and supervisors can help make this difference a reality.
In these stressful times, it is not enough to post benefit information on your company website. People are overwhelmed by news about the virus, their health risk, their jobs and the economy. That is why you and your benefit providers should reinforce messaging several times, when appropriate, about how to get help for the stress they are feeling. Employers need to reinforce what their benefits providers are saying, support the importance of getting help when needed, and, when relevant, create multi-lingual resources. Working with benefits providers to assure your employees can access remote services and adjusting internal policies can minimize the impacts on your workplace and support your workers through stressful situations.
If your organization does not offer an EAP or similar program, there are still things you can do to support your workforce as they deal with the current stresses. You may want to circle back after the crisis has passed to see if you can deploy an EAP for future crisis issues. Whatever resources you do have available, it is crucial to let your employees know about them. Employees may have a lot on their mind and may be experiencing high levels of stress – they may be more distracted, which is typical. You may need to tell them repeatedly and in a variety of ways how to access mental health services.
Article is courtesy of the National Safety Council. To view full article visit:
About the Author
Share This Story
Related Blogs
OSHA Announces Top 10 Violations for 2025
OSHA recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2025 fiscal year using preliminary data. This information is valuable for businesses of all kinds, as it helps them identify common exposures that affect their workforce and gives them the information they need to plan their compliance programs.
Cyber Hygiene for Schools: Teaching Digital Safety to Students
Cyber hygiene for schools is more important than ever in today’s digital learning environment. Teaching digital safety to students not only protects their personal information but also strengthens overall school cybersecurity. With increasing online access in classrooms, cyber hygiene for schools must become a routine part of curriculum planning and student behavior expectations.
Mental Health Benefits Go Mainstream: What Employers Need to Know
Once considered a niche offering or a reactive add-on, mental health benefits have now moved to the center of the employee experience. In 2025, nearly half of U.S. employers offer some form of mental health support beyond traditional EAPs—a sharp rise from just 30% in 2023. This shift isn’t just cultural; it’s strategic.