The Top Trends in Employee Wellness from May 2025
May brought technological advancements and shifting employee expectations that can impact how HR leaders navigate recruitment and other areas. If organizations hope to remain competitive in this ever-evolving market, it’s crucial to stay on top of these employee wellness trends.
Learn how tariffs might impact employee pay, AI is changing the recruitment process, and more, in this employee wellness news round-up.
Trending Topics
How AI will revolutionize recruitment in the next six months
Artificial intelligence tools are transforming the way employers and job candidates interact during the recruitment process. It can help employers swiftly screen resumes, select top candidates based on experience, and pair job seekers with jobs that match their profiles. AI helps candidates as well by refining their applications, aiding in interview preparation, and utilizing chatbots to schedule interviews. However, there are also some major concerns being raised. Keep reading to find out more!
Read the full The HR Digest article here >>
Employees are worried about how tariffs will affect their pay. Should they be?
Towers Watson, a global professional services firm, recently published the results of their
Adapting to 2025 U.S. Policy Shifts Pulse Survey. They found that almost 60% of employers reported that their workforces are concerned about the impact new economic policies could have on base pay increases. However, 48% of employers stated that there would be no impact on this year’s projected salary increases, and 28% don’t anticipate it affecting next year’s budget.
Read on to learn more about the disconnect between employees’ concerns about job security and their employers’ actions.
Read the full HR Executive article here >>
Benefits & Compensation
Benefits that educate and accommodate neurodivergent talent
Approximately 70 million people are diagnosed with ADHD or dyslexia, with many of them having fears about disclosing it to their employers. They worry that it’ll hurt their ability to succeed in the workplace due to the stigmas still surrounding it.
In a survey, 82% of respondents shared that employers need better education on how to support this demographic. The survey also revealed that 68% were unaware of the accommodations to which they’re entitled, and 51% didn’t know who they could speak with at work about these accommodations.
The article shares different ways employers could consider bridging the gap, such as anonymous identification surveys and resource groups.
Read the full Employee Benefits News article here >>
Pet benefits keep a multi-generational workforce happy
Employees are seeking wellness benefits that expand beyond improving their own physical and mental health. They desire options for their pets as well. A survey found that 48% of Gen Z employees view their pets as children, while Gen X and Baby Boomers view them as a form of support.
For years, HR leaders have struggled to find a solution that many employees would find valuable, and pet care could be a satisfactory option. Because Pet care is expensive, employees would like their employers to offer pet benefits that will help them.
Read the full Employee Benefits News article here >>
Healthcare & Insurance News
Family health care costs soar to $35,000, driven by drugs and outpatient care
This year, health care expenses have risen to $35,119 for a typical family of four. For an individual, costs have increased 6.7% to $7,871. The increased fees are a result of a nearly 10% boost in pharmacy costs and an 8.5% rise in outpatient facility care costs. Combined, pharmacy and outpatient expenses make up approximately 70% of the total cost increase.
The fees associated with the increased use of outpatient-administered drugs, new technologies, and changing reimbursement structures have contributed to amplified cost growth. Employers are still bearing most of these costs, but their share has decreased since 2005.
Read the full Benefits Pro article here >>
Voices From the Field
The caregiving benefits conversation needs to include hourly workers
Since 2020, child care fees have grown by 22%. However, while caregiving benefits have been implemented into many employers’ compensation packages, specific demographics may not be able to utilize them fully. Employees in industries such as construction, retail, and hospitality, for example, often have irregular schedules and lower wages.
Several hourly and deskless workers have to rely on more creative solutions, signaling a need to expand access and care. This article argues that employers must ensure these employees are a part of the conversation if they want them to remain productive and engaged.
Read the full Employee Benefits News article here >>
Employers say their benefits are modern. Employees don’t agree, study finds.
A Prudential study highlights the disconnect between what companies offer and what their employees actually need. When it comes to employee wellness benefits, the study found that 86% of employers believe their benefits are modern. However, only 59% of employees share the same sentiment. Many employees are concerned with their ability to save for retirement, housing costs, and purchasing everyday goods.
While more than half of the 750 of the employers surveyed want to improve employee well-being, the study identifies the opportunity for employers to focus on benefits that solve these employee challenges. Dive into more insight below.
Read the full HR Dive article here >>
What Is Ghostworking? Addressing Employee Disengagement Trends in 2025
Ghostworking is a new HR job trend where employees pretend to work and fake productivity. This lack of effort is a growing issue, with one survey finding that almost 60% of workers frequently engage in fake work, and 38% do so occasionally. Some employees even admit to pretending to type, walking around the office with a notebook, or doing make-believe phone calls to clients.
Workers have completed personal tasks while on the job for years and will likely always do so; therefore, eliminating this issue isn’t exactly possible. The article dives into several suggestions on how employers can mitigate disengagement.
Read the full HR Digest article here >>
Latest from Agile Telehealth
Why Companies Are Prioritizing Employee Mental Health Amid Rising Costs
Common mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, are costing the global economy trillions of dollars annually, primarily due to lost productivity. Employees with unmanaged or undertreated mental health concerns aren’t just more likely to call off, they also have reduced retention and morale.
Workers with higher levels of well-being tend to perform better at work, so it’s worth it for employers to prioritize mental health needs. The article highlights that one way to achieve this is by providing telehealth solutions. Virtual care allows staff to easily and conveniently access therapists and other resources for enhanced support.
Read the full Agile Telehealth article here >>
How Wellness Benefits Can Improve Workforce Health
Employers looking to retain their workforce, attract top talent, or even decrease healthcare
costs should invest in wellness programs. There are various types of options, ranging from on-site classes and stress management workshops to better-paid parental leave and retirement planning.
Today’s employees aren’t just focused on getting a higher salary; they’re also interested in company culture. Businesses that prioritize the wellness of their workforce will stand out from those that don’t.
Read the full Agile Telehealth article here >>
Access better mental health for your employees with Agile Telehealth
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