Businesses Are Elevating Benefits To Boost Employee Wellbeing

Employees are placing increasing value on wellbeing in the workplace to the extent that many consider it as important as how much they earn.

A 2026 report by Wellhub, a health and fitness software company, found that 86% of respondents said their wellbeing at work matters just as much as their salary.

Just 11% of human resources team leaders said they hadn't seen a change in demand for wellbeing support and benefits, according to research by employee benefits platform Reward Gateway Edenred.

Employers have responded by switching up their benefits, to reflect changing attitudes and retain talent. Since the COVID pandemic, there has been increasing demand for preventative healthcare, such as health checks and screenings, according to Dr. Tom Davis, U.K. country manager and clinical director at Kry Livi told Newsweek.

"Employers are starting to see that preventative care is not just good for employees, it also reduces long-term costs and builds resilience in the workforce," he said.

Rather than having access to expensive benefits, such as private healthcare, employees are increasingly attracted to rewards that are useful and accessible.

Davis advised that it's important that businesses communicate these benefits effectively saying, "By packaging and promoting benefits in a connected way, businesses can make what they offer feel more valuable without needing to overspend."

Another trend is a move away from a one-size-fits all approach. "Instead of static packages, employers are giving people the flexibility to use support in a way that reflects their life stage, whether that's fertility treatment, menopause care or newer interventions like GLP‑1s," Holly Coe, senior reward consultant at Innecto told Newsweek.

"Done well, that delivers real value on both sides: employees feel genuinely supported, and employers benefit from better engagement, retention and reduced long-term health risk," she said.

Additional reserach by Reward Gateway Edenred found that 88% of employees agree that employers who care for staff will retain them for longer, and 84% believe that, by doing this, they can attract the best talent.

To be effective, it's important for leaders to fully understand what is being offered.

"The reality is, most employers still do not have a single, consolidated view of their global benefits programms," Jo Bean, head of People at Enterprise Benefits Intelligence platformOrigin told Newsweek.

She added: "Prioritizing benefits visibility and using this to create a tailored wellbeing package based on insight, company culture, and workforce demographics, is the fundamental issue every business needs to get right before it does anything else.

"Only once this visibility is in place, HR can turn its attention to creating and implementing the best and most relevant programm of mental, physical, and financial wellness benefits."

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 6:41 AM.