The Future of Workplace Wellness: Unveiling Four Major Predictions for 2024

What major trends will shape workplace wellness in 2024?

As we enter a new year, workplace wellness will continue to evolve — from innovative technologies to a deeper focus on mental health. Here are four major predictions that will redefine workplace wellness in the year to come.

Trend #1: There'll be a surge in demand for cultures of holistic wellness.

Most organizations recognize that employee well-being is not just a “nice to have;” it’s a must have. As a result, companies have made employee well-being, especially mental well-being, a top priority. Despite these good intentions, however, these efforts continue to fall short. Why? Companies have put too much stock in individual-level interventions (like yoga, meditation apps or employee assistance programs) – and not enough in changing the culture. The good news is – that’s starting to change. Forward-thinking Trendsetters recognize that the number one thing they can do is to focus less on the “fish” (as in, the individual employee) – and more on the “water” (as in, the culture) that surrounds the fish. 
 
What steps can you take to create a culture of holistic well-being in your company?​
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💡Take action: Listen here to learn how to create lasting change for happier employees.

Trend #2: We'll see 90% return to the office, either hybrid or full, by the end of the year, and that could be good for social well-being.

Working from home during the pandemic opened up new possibilities on what work-life can look like. In particular, employees discovered the joys of having flexibility in terms of where, when and how they worked. No wonder 90% of employees say they don’t want to return to the office full-time in 2024, according to research by Gallup.

Despite this resistance, however, returning to the office or a hybrid model holds promise for both the employer and employee. The key to making this work lies in how employers go about making the transition. Superficial perks like free food or happy hours won’t cut it. Rather, employers need to come up with meaningful ways to reshape the work experience itself so that workers feel like there is a legitimate reason to be in the office. 
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💡Take action: Here are three ways managers can help their teams to ease the transition back.​

Trend #3: AI-empowered workplaces will evolve.

With all the hype around artificial intelligence, it’s easy to get swept up and believe AI is the panacea that will solve the spike in mental health issues in the workplace, such as burnout, depression and anxiety. While the technology sounds promising, evidence suggests that it won’t do much, since most AI-based solutions continue to target the individual, rather than tackle the larger systematic issues at play.

As an Activator, you’ll need to get clear about what AI can do, what it can’t do, and how you can best leverage this rising technology to enhance the well-being of the people you serve. 

💡Take action: Find out what you can do to best leverage AI. 

Trend #4: There will be an increased recognition that friendships at work are essential for people – and the bottom line.
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According to the 2021 Workplace Friendship & Happiness Survey by Wildgoose

• 57% of people say having a best friend in the workplace makes work more enjoyable
• 22% feel more productive with friends
• 21% say friendship makes them more creative 

In other words, friendships at work are good for people – and good for the bottom line. 

In this month’s LinkedIn Live with Jessica Grossmeier, we talked about the science, the business case, as well as the people case behind friendships at work. When we have stronger connections at work, it makes us want to lean into our work more. Moreover, when one person on the team feels a sense of loneliness or isolation, it affects the whole team's performance.
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  💡Take action: Watch our conversation here.

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​Here's a quick recap of the  four trends I am seeing for workplace well-being:

• Trend #1: There'll be a surge in demand for cultures of holistic wellness.
• Trend #2: We'll see 90% return to the office, either hybrid or full, by the end of the year, and that could be good for social well-being.
• Trend #3: AI-empowered workplaces will evolve.
• Trend #4: There will be an increased recognition that friendships at work are essential for people – and the bottom line.

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​Which one are you? (quiz)

When it comes to workplace well-being we all play a roll.
​Are you a Trendsetter, Permission Giver, Activator, or Self-Starter? 

Take our quiz, and let's see if we can predict the role you play in well-being.

TAKE THE QUIZ

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Laura Putnam

​​Laura Putnam is a leading catalyst for well-being at work, an international public speaker, and author of Workplace Wellness That Works. As CEO of Motion Infusion and creator of the leadership training program Managers on the Move, she infuses well-being into the workplace to help employees, teams and organizations thrive. You can follow her on Twitter @MotionInfusion.