National Wellness Month 2025: Turning Wellness into Workplace Momentum

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Published: 08.01.2025

August is National Wellness Month—a timely opportunity for employers to elevate employee well-being and prioritize health in a meaningful way.

As workplace stress and mental health concerns continue to rise, companies that invest in whole-person care and workplace wellness strategies are seeing measurable returns in engagement, productivity, and retention.

The Connection Between Employee Benefits and Wellness

According to the American Psychological Association, 77% of employees report experiencing work-related stress, and burnout remains a leading cause of turnover.

Additionally, a NAMI poll shows between 21% - 34% of employees reported they have considered quitting because of work’s impact on their mental health.

These numbers highlight the growing need for valuable resources like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), preventive care, and mental health services, and the education and resources that go along with promoting employee utilization.

Research also supports the business case for wellness investment. The Harvard Business Review notes that for every dollar spent on employee wellness, medical costs drop by $3.27, and absenteeism costs fall by $2.73.

When employees engage with their benefits and feel supported, organizations benefit too through lower burnout, reduced absenteeism, improved morale, and cost savings.

How to Build a Culture of Employee Wellness

Building a culture of wellness goes beyond just offering benefits and requires thoughtful communication, accessibility, and leadership support. Wellness can’t just live in a brochure or annual HR email. It must be visible, accessible, and part of the everyday employee experience. National Wellness Month is the perfect time to bring that visibility to life.

To bring Wellness Month to life in your organization, consider a few practical ideas:

• Implement regular check-ins and provide feedback opportunities like surveys to support open communication and support.
• Highlight a different benefit each month with short, engaging communications that explain how services like mental health benefits and wellness programs work.
• Promote EAPs and wellness programs with real-life examples and testimonials to build trust and familiarity.
• Offer small wellness incentives to encourage preventive care, fitness, or mindfulness engagement.

The Many Dimensions of Employee Wellness

A successful wellness strategy supports the whole person. Employees are managing challenges in all areas of their lives, and benefit programs should reflect that by addressing:

• Mental Wellness: Help employees manage stress, avoid burnout, and access care through EAPs, virtual therapy, and mindfulness tools.
• Physical Wellness: Encourage healthy living through preventive care, fitness reimbursements, health screenings, and nutrition programs.
• Financial Wellness: Reduce money-related stress with financial education, budgeting resources, student loan assistance, and retirement planning support.
• Social Wellness: Create a sense of connection with peer support programs, team-building initiatives, and inclusive employee resource groups.
• Occupational Wellness: Support job satisfaction and growth through learning opportunities, career development, and meaningful recognition.

By investing in all areas of wellness, organizations show employees that they’re valued both in and outside of their roles at the company.

Support from Your Benefits Partner

Programs like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health support, wellness incentives, and preventive care screenings are all powerful tools that can strengthen retention, boost morale, and reduce absenteeism.

A trusted benefits partner can help employers and brokers design and deliver strategies that truly support the whole employee.

This National Wellness Month, explore how enhancing your offerings with these programs can have a lasting impact on employee well-being.

When culture and coverage align, your workforce thrives. National Wellness Month is more than a campaign, it’s a catalyst. Whether you're offering a virtual mindfulness session, highlighting mental health benefits, or rolling out new wellness incentives, now is the time to turn awareness into action.