Top 3 Workplace Wellness Trends
By Nikki Peters, Founder of Studio 9 to 5 Wellness
From rising healthcare costs to record-low engagement, organizations across industries are realizing that employee wellness is no longer a perk — it’s a performance strategy. Here’s what’s driving the conversation:
1️⃣ Rising Healthcare Costs and the GLP-1 Revolution
Employers are now facing the highest healthcare costs in more than a decade, largely driven by the surge in prescription medications particularly GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Forward-thinking organizations aren’t just reacting; they’re setting clear GLP-1 policies and creating comprehensive support systems that emphasize prevention and whole-person wellbeing.
That means:
Step-therapy approaches before prescription access
Nutrition education and lifestyle coaching
Human support through health coaches and registered dietitians
It’s a smarter, more compassionate way to manage costs while improving health outcomes.
2️⃣ Manager Burnout and the Engagement Decline
Employee engagement and the ability to thrive have steadily decreased — especially among managers.
Top organizations are addressing this head-on by doubling down on manager support, with programs focused on:
Mental health and resilience
Leadership and communication training
Stress management and personal development
Intentional team-building experiences
When leaders feel supported, they create psychologically safe, energized teams — and that changes everything.
3️⃣ Connection Is the New KPI
More than half of U.S. workers report loneliness as a primary factor impacting their wellbeing.
That’s why leading companies are reframing “return to office” as “return to wellness.” They’re creating in-person experiences that foster authentic connection — from on-site wellness activities with real human facilitators to monthly or quarterly team-wellness experiences measured as key performance indicators.
Connection isn’t a “nice to have” - it’s the foundation of thriving workplace cultures.
Let’s Build a Beautiful Company Culture Together
If you’d like to talk more about how to integrate these trends into your organization, our team at Studio 9-to-5 Wellness would love to connect. Let’s redefine what “healthy work” really looks like together.