The pros reveal their favorite health benefits

The right choice additional wellness benefits for a workforce can be difficult. Employers must ask themselves: What will have the greatest impact and what will go unused?

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 53 million adults suffer from a mental health disorders each year (anxiety being the most common) and 2023 data from the American Psychological Association showed that 77% of workers said they had recently stressed because of their work. It’s clear that employers need to go beyond standard health insurance by adding benefits that help workers feel good and manage their day-to-day responsibilities. When incorporated correctly, perks like gym access, mindfulness resources and flexibility can improve employees’ lives.

“My team started using the gym subsidies three years ago and most of them are still taking advantage,” says VM, founder of a weight loss company. “The payoff is fewer sick days, better moods and efficiency, and higher customer retention and referrals when employees feel and perform at their best. The benefit costs money, but the return on investment in productivity, loyalty and health savings outweighs it.”

Read more: How to close the gap: The gap between talk and action in employee wellness initiatives

To find out which benefits are the best, it helps to hear from people who have seen results firsthand. Four professionals at different career stages describe the wellness offerings that have made their lives better.