The tsunami of turmoil that started in 2020 has continued wreaking havoc in 2021. Over the past year, the accompanying stress and uncertainty have taken a toll on employees. As a result, those employees now expect their employers to step up and be supportive in ways unfamiliar to them. This demand has forced entire organizations to take a fresh look at 2021 workplace healthcare trends and re-evaluate their current wellness benefits.
How do employers keep up with those trends? What must they know to help employees better deal with physical and mental wellness issues?
Our Guest: Richa Gupta, Veteran HR Executive
Joining me on this week’s episode of #WorkTrends is a well-respected HR executive, Richa Gupta. Richa has had a front-row seat as 2021 workplace healthcare trends have developed, so I have been looking forward to this critical conversation. First, I asked Richa how the pandemic has forced companies to shift their healthcare and wellness priorities this year. Her answer showcased three distinct elements of this worldwide conversation:
- The different ways employees work today; how and where we get our work done
- The evolution of leadership; specifically, how we lead our workforce out of the pandemic
- Health and wellbeing strategies; how employers are helping care for employees
“Employers play a very vital role in employee health in 2021,” Richa said. “Specifically, given their extensive reach into the workforce, midsize and large employers play a critical leadership role in health advocacy.”
“Employers are a trusted resource for healthcare, so they must realize they are at the core of today’s wellness issues.”
An Insider Look at Understanding 2021 Workplace Healthcare Trends
In large part because of the pandemic, Richa said the most significant workplace trend is that as the pandemic maintains its grip on the workplace and presents ongoing health and wellbeing challenges, many companies are changing their wellness-related priorities. And that starts with personalizing the benefits offered to employees.
“CHROs in particular need to more deeply understand their employee population. So they’re starting to ask questions that we didn’t before. How do we serve them differently? How do we cater to their specific healthcare and well-being needs?”
Richa added: “How we ensure a healthier, productive workforce starts with understanding who you have — and then catering to them by offering benefits in a very personalized way.”
I couldn’t agree more; the reality is one-size-fits-all healthcare plans just don’t work now. Maybe they never have.
I gained valuable insight from Richa during this conversation — and I know you will too. Enjoy the listen, then incorporate Richa’s sage advice into your company’s inevitable transformation.
To learn more about Richa and her work, connect with her on LinkedIn.
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