Nine in 10 (93 per cent) of global employers say they’ll maintain or expand their well-being offerings in 2025, according to a new survey by Business Group on Health.
The survey, which polled 131 employers representing 11.2 million global workers, found 94 per cent said they plan to raise expectations for well-being vendors to deliver stronger outcomes, using dashboards to track and evaluate performance.
Roughly half (47 per cent) said they consider mental health the No. 1 well-being dimension, while another 44 per cent ranked it as the second-most important dimension. Physical health remained a top priority, particularly around weight management. Nearly two-thirds of employers said the increasing use of GLP-1 medications had influenced their approach, prompting changes to their well-being offerings or greater vendor accountability.
Read: Psychological safety, DEI rising considerations in workplace mental-health support
Nearly all (92 per cent) employers included financial health in their 2025 strategy, with 100 per cent projected to do so by 2026. Some supported employees through subsidies or direct contributions for student loan repayment, tuition reimbursement and emergency savings.
More than eight in 10 (85 per cent) of multinational employers said they’ve implemented or were developing a global consistency strategy for well-being. More than three-quarters said they offer access to nutritious food, physical activity challenges and well-being champion networks to global workforces. A similar percentage (77 per cent) provided nutrition-focused resources tailored to local markets. These initiatives often supported broader wellness goals by encouraging social engagement and healthy habits.
Roughly 75 per cent of employers incorporated social connectedness and community into their well-being strategies. Common initiatives included employee resource groups, mentoring and peer coaching.
More than half (59 per cent) of employers said they plan to expand efforts around social determinants of health, including housing, education, income and other conditions that shape overall well-being. This area ranked as the most likely to grow in the years ahead, the survey noted.
Read: Employers rethinking value of employee connections in era of remote work