republished from LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse...

Many businesses face the impacts of the ‘great resignation’ or the battle to retain staff burnt out from the last few years. Wellness trends hold the key to a company’s ability to attract and retain staff in the future. No longer is it just about salaries and bonuses; people want to know how a business will support their mental wellbeing physical health and allow them the freedom to live how and where they wish.
Let’s look at the top three corporate trends to lead the way in 2022.
Trend 1: Mental Health + Wellbeing
The pandemic emphasised how important the mental health of employees truly is. We have a clear view of the impacts of living and working under the conditions we faced impacted professional environments.
Once we would request a sick day, now there is no shame in asking for a ‘mental health day’. The acceptance that our mental health impacts our performance is now recognised more than ever by workplaces.
“Supporting the mental health of employees, customers, and the wider community should already be a major priority for companies around the world. In the year ahead, as working from home becomes more common and our lives grow more interconnected than ever, there will be an even greater focus upon mental health alongside physical health and wellbeing. This should have a positive impact on individuals, businesses, and communities,” said Richard Branson.
A Gartner 2020 survey of 52 HR executives uncovered that:
94% of companies made significant investments in their wellbeing programs.
85% increased support for mental health benefits.
50% increased support for physical wellbeing.
As a company, we see this trend come into focus across every industry, one in particular jumps out — mining. At Evolt 360, we are helping mine site workers prioritise their health and wellness through staff fitness challenges using a machine that measures their body metrics and identifies changes over time.
An Australian mine site recently implemented the Evolt 360 body composition scanner and completed 235 scans in the first month, improving staff wellness and engagement in the gym. The mine site is now our fourth-highest scanning client in Australia.
Typically, our scanners are found in gyms and health clubs, but now as corporates emphasise health and fitness, the machine is being more widely used throughout workplaces to improve physical and mental health levels.
This is one unique example of how an industry highlights where they need to support their team and seek the technology to help get them there.
What does this trend in action look like?
Wellbeing programs available via workplaces.
Mental health support providers are available as part of employee benefits.
Mental health days as an additional form of leave on top of sick days and carers leave.
Rostered paid days off for team members.
Available virtual fitness programs for staff like yoga, pilates and HIIT.
Blocked out time across all calendars to allow for lunch hours and breaks.
Expansion into programs that support financial health.
Exploring 4-day working weeks.
Trend 2: Family Flexibility
The pandemic put to the forefront (and Zoom screen) how much professional workers have to balance work and personal life. We learned that we do not have to abide by hard start and finish times when it comes to being a parent or family member.
We got used to team members logging in between homeschooling or preparing work later in the evening for team members that prefer to work earlier.
We have shown we can work and live outside of traditional hours, and now workers expect this flexibility. Many businesses have already heard loud and clear from staff they will leave if they don’t receive compassionate flexibility.
“On top of all the usual pressures that accompany family life, parents, in particular, are burdened with making intense, fatiguing decisions daily to protect themselves and fill in the gaps. Employees also aren’t solely caring for their children, too; they’re juggling care for older parents, sick relatives, children with unique needs, and more. These responsibilities affect the mental health and wellbeing of every workforce, which impacts productivity, retention, and even health expenditure. Moreover, Ovia’s research shows that employees will leave their role if they don’t receive support, and fast,” said Rachel Boyd, VP of Enterprise Marketing, at Ovia Health.
What does this trend in action look like?
Working hours that work with someone's personal family situation.
Flexible working arrangements.
Addressing commute inequality by giving those who work further away due to housing costs fewer days they are required in the office.
Flexitime (allowing staff to bank extra hours in exchange for time off).
Working the standard weekly hours over fewer days or vice versa.
Improved maternity and paternity leave, as well as leave allowing for compassionate care.
Trend 3: Hybrid Workplaces
The future of work is hybrid. Businesses will have staff working a mix of from home and from office days, with their projects expected to operate seamlessly across these two landscapes.
Microsoft's latest report showed that over 70% of workers want flexible work options to continue, but over 65% want more in-person time with their teams. What does this look like? Digital flexibility paired with redesigned workplaces to promote in-person connection. Getting there starts first with authentic and collaborative modern workplaces.
"The next decade will be defined by hybridity: a state of drawing on the virtues and benefits of both physical and digital space, in-person and virtual, the experienced and the newcomer," read an article by Digiday.
Harvard Business Review has additionally reported more than 90% of employers are planning to adopt a hybrid working modal for 2022.
However, one thing to remain focused on as we shift to a more permanent hybrid working modal is the impact working from home has on our health.
Working from home has led to unhealthy habits that we need to become aware of and shift. When we once used to walk to the bus or train, ride our bikes or walk upstairs to get to work, we now slide from one room to the other.
What does this trend in action look like?
Flexible working arrangements.
Workspaces that allow for open areas and configuration to support collaboration.
Modern workplace technology which blends all workplaces together seamlessly.
A focus on cloud-based technologies.
Support for employees at home environment to equip them to perform at their best.

This year, we will see much of the trends that have been bubbling away come into full action and be demanded from employees. Following the great resignation; job seekers, employees and freelancers hold power in requesting businesses support their overall wellbeing and freedom to work how they wish.
Wellness trends are now more than nice to have for corporate environments; they are a currency in attracting and retaining staff.

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