In recent health news: Despite the U.S. spending the most on health care, America still has the worst health outcomes among high-income countries.

The report, published by The Commonwealth Fund in its U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, found Americans are more likely to die younger — from avoidable causes — than residents of other countries. For example, the U.S. obesity rate is nearly double the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards.

For American employers, providing useful healthcare coverage is essential in keeping employees well. But it comes at a cost — especially for unhealthy employees who continue to develop more chronic health concerns — and that cost isn’t getting cheaper. Adding more fuel to the fire is the fact that starting April 1, about 15 million people will lose Medicaid coverage, with many switching to employer-based plans instead.

If you provide health insurance to workers or just want to see them generally healthy, this post is for you.

Here’s a look at important recent health news and ways for employers to keep healthcare costs down while also encouraging workers to stay healthy.

Looking for a simple way to bring more workplace well-being topics to your employees?

There’s no better way than with a webinar. 

These seminars are online, so there’s no need to travel or make workers come into the office. It’s an ideal way to spread wellness content without interrupting the work day unnecessarily. Plus, you can include remote workers, too. Whether your team members and leadership are interested in intuitive eating, mental health strategies, meditation, or some other topic, there is something for everyone!

Below, you’ll find valuable upcoming wellness webinars to register for throughout the year. Best of all, they’re free!

Need some thrilling workplace wellness campaigns to kick off 2023?

We’ve got you covered.

Yes, it’s certainly time to start wellness goal planning for 2023. For wellness coordinators and committees, resolutions should absolutely include workplace wellness goals and where you want to see your workplace go well-being-wise.

Your workers are your best asset, so ensuring they are well and thriving through your wellness programs and beyond is a wise move. Stumped on simple ways to reinvigorate your upcoming campaigns? No worries.

Below we share several unique ways to get everyone at work excited about wellness:

Looking for some calming activities you can do at work and home?

You’ll find them here.

Daily life can be hectic and crazy, but it doesn’t mean you should let it get to you every minute of every day. Learning some coping techniques and exploring calming activities can help you feel more centered and less reactive to daily life.

 By practicing calming activities you may:

• Improve digestion
• Slow your breathing rate
• Reduce stress hormone activity
• Minimize muscle tension and stress

Whether you’re waiting for a remote Zoom call to start, sitting alone in your cubicle, or trying to relax for the day, you’ll find the calming activities below can help you enjoy a sense of calm.

Diabetes Awareness Month is in November, a great time to discuss the topic of diabetes, risk factors, and how to control pre-diabetes.

Right now, more than 130 million people in the U.S. alone live with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Keeping it under control is essential to preventing dehydration, seizures, and other serious health issues.

For employers, this means a better understanding of the condition can prepare you to help diabetic employees as needed. It can also open up conversations around generally good health and staying well to avoid issues like prediabetes.

Read on to learn how healthy habits like yoga, cutting carbs, exercising regularly, and other habits can keep those at risk or with diabetes healthier. Plus, discover resources to share with workers on the topic of diabetes.

Here’s to starting conversations that lead to more diabetes awareness!

Wondering if you should get a standing desk? Or if you should supply your entire team with standing desks? 

Given that 15 percent of U.S. adults are physically inactive, perhaps the biggest benefit of standing desks is simply the standing part. For years, docs have told us how a sedentary lifestyle leads to issues like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and even some cancer types.

In fact, sitting too long is harming your employees more than you might think.

If you’re looking at your budget for next year, you may be considering ways to make your office and employees more comfortable. Research indicates that 65 percent of individuals who got standing desks reported an increase in productivity; 47 percent said the pain in their upper back, neck, and shoulders improved.

Ready to order new desks? This post will cover the science of standing desks, the benefits of standing desks, using one correctly, and where to get them.

Now that the “Great Resignation” is over, a new issue is hitting workplaces: quiet quitting.

Quiet quitting is when you find burned-out workers doing the bare minimum necessary to keep their jobs.

Not exactly a great way to keep morale up or production going smoothly, right?

This post offers insight for leadership to respond including cutting back on extra demands, eliminating weekend communication, getting feedback from unhappy employees, and potentially looking at firing “quitters” if they don’t pull their weight or have a good attitude most days.

Read on if you need advice on dealing with quiet quitting in your workplace.

Workplace perks. 

Everyone loves them, but just how many does an employer need to offer?

 According to a recently released 2023 Salary Guide by Robert Half, a talent solutions company, organizations are under pressure to offer higher compensation to current and new staff in an era of quiet quitting and on the heels of the “Great Resignation.”  

Beyond adjusting pay, how else can employers attract and keep the best and brightest in a competitive hiring market?

Going into 2023, employers should know:

• Wellness programs & mental health perks are a must
• Salaries are trending upward
• Workers want raises

This post will share insights to the survey and how employers can continue to impress in a market where there are more job openings than job seekers.

Are you and your employees getting burned out on your workplace wellness programs?

When leadership and team members aren’t getting the right support from wellness programs, change is the only way to improve it. The Great Resignation has proven that mediocre jobs with so-so health benefits don’t cut it anymore. People are willing to leave jobs that leave them feeling too stressed and unhappy.

A recent survey uncovered evidence of just how true that is. Deloitte connected with independent research firm Workplace Intelligence and surveyed 2,100 employees and C-level execs across four countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

The most shocking aspect of the survey? Nearly 70% of C-suite individuals surveyed are seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their well-being. You know it’s rough when even the boss wants to quit.

Now is an excellent time to focus on keeping employees productive and engaged and focused on their wellbeing — especially with the rise in costs for everything, including healthcare. Take time to reevaluate ways to keep workplace wellness programs relevant and keep workers (and leaders) on board.

Below, we share how to keep the spirit of wellness alive in your workplace.

How good are you at knowing how to handle stressful situations at work?

Learning how to appropriately manage your workplace stress can make all the difference when it comes to your health, mental state, and productivity. No matter how much you love your job or what you do, there is always going to be a certain amount of stress that comes with it.

In the workplace, stress can come at you from all angles. Whether it’s an angry client, an awkward colleague conversation, or making a mistake on a big project, mounting stress that’s not taken care of can lead to physical and mental health concerns.

If you’re looking for some better ways to handle stress, we’ve got your back.

Check out these tips below for tackling stressful situations at work.