Survey results suggest a modest rebound in employee well-being. The 2024 Workplace Wellness Survey, conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research, indicates that workers’ concerns about mental, physical, and financial health have eased compared to previous years. However, financial challenges, particularly related to retirement planning and debt, continue to weigh heavily on employees.
About the Survey
This fifth annual survey gathered insights from over 1,000 U.S. workers between July 22 and August 18, 2024, exploring attitudes toward employment-based benefits and well-being. Additionally, 500 military veterans were surveyed, with findings for this group to be released later this year.
Concerns Decline Across Key Areas
Survey findings reveal a gradual improvement in workers’ perceptions of their well-being. Participants rated their concerns in three key areas on a scale of 1-10:
- Mental health: Average concern decreased to 5.5 in 2024, down from 5.8 in 2023.
- Physical health: Concern levels dropped to 5.7 from 6.2 in 2023.
- Financial well-being: Worries fell to 6.3 from 6.9 in 2022.
Job satisfaction remains a bright spot, with 56% of employees reporting they are very or extremely satisfied with their current roles. Similarly, satisfaction with benefits packages held steady, with 40% expressing high satisfaction. Workers suggested improvements such as increased employer contributions, more wellness resources, and greater flexibility in benefits..
Persistent Challenges
Despite progress in overall well-being, new and ongoing stressors continue to affect employees.
- Financial concerns dominate: Half of respondents identified saving for retirement as their top concern, while 70% worry their employers might reduce or eliminate retirement benefits. Debt adds to the burden, with 75% of employees saying it is a significant issue.
- Emerging challenges in AI: Nearly one-third of workers expressed concern about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on their job security. These worries highlight growing uncertainty as workplace technologies evolve and automation becomes more prevalent.
Together, these challenges underscore the need for employers to address both traditional and emerging stressors to create a more secure and supportive work environment.
Room for Improvement
Employers have room to enhance their support for workers. While 20% of respondents noted increased well-being initiatives at their workplace, the majority (66%) reported no change in these efforts.
“Workers broadly agree that their employers have a responsibility to make sure employees are mentally healthy, physically healthy, and financially healthy,” said Jake Spiegel, research associate at EBRI in a press release. “Progress is being made, but workplace stressors remain.”
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