Workplace Wellness Conference

Conversations around belonging in the workplace have taken center stage as many companies implement return-to-office plans and employees transition to in-person interactions over the virtual normal of the past two years. With the topic of talent retention and the Great Resignation in the background, job seekers and employers should be reevaluating what an inclusive, kind workplace means to them and how they can be a part of positive change to support employee mental health at work. Armed with findings from a joint survey of 1,200 young workers ages 18-29 exploring kindness and mental health priorities in the workplace, presenters will share data points including:

• 77% of respondents were more likely to apply for a job posting that listed ‘kindness’ as an important value of the company.
• 89% of young workers see mental health and kindness as high priorities in the workplace.
• 32% of employees work in environments where paid personal or mental health days are provided.
• Only half of the young people surveyed reported having health insurance that covers mental health care.

It’s no secret that the stigma associated with mental illness prevents many from seeking help for widely treatable conditions. Starting and sustaining those important conversations about mental health issues lets employees who are struggling know they are not alone and that there are resources available to help. Learn how Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems launched a positive mental health campaign that successfully got employees talking about issues typically not discussed in the workplace to slash the stigma. This session will outline how to:

• Get started with two simple, but proven objectives
• Move your audience with powerful employee stories
• Leverage national campaigns, internal partnerships and communications channels to extend your reach
• Measure your impact with “meaningful” metrics

The pandemic shifted employees’ priorities and raised expectations of employers. This led to the rise of what we call the belief-driven employee – those who choose and stay with employers based on their values and beliefs. Did you know 8 in 10 now expect their employer to play a meaningful role in helping workers stay as healthy as possible? Protecting the well-being and reflecting the values of current and prospective employees is no longer a “nice to have” but a business imperative. Join this session to learn more about the “employer trust advantage” and wellness-focused insights from the latest Edelman Trust Barometer and Special Reports.

Retirement is a hot topic in Washington right now and almost everyone agrees there are improvements that could be made to retirement planning that might encourage more employers to start a retirement plan. In this session, we will discuss the pending legislation that could affect existing retirement plans, and the provisions that could motivate more employers to offer these benefits.

We’ll gather in small groups to brainstorm a hot topic with your table mates and share best practices and ways to rise to the challenge. One designated representative from each table will share the findings around your topic with the audience. Topics will include employee burnout, change communications, campaigns and contests, remote work, budgeting and measurement.

The new workplace norm creates challenges for many, regardless of the model. Working parents and caregivers face particular obstacles in light of the pandemic (and even before the pandemic). And, as many employees are working in a hybrid model, how do you ensure your wellness programs are touching all areas of the workforce? Hear how a PR agency engrains its people-first values in its culture and benefits. This session will cover:

• Lessons for growth to the c-suite
• HR’s rising priority to drive business success and evolving the workplace
• Keeping people at the center of operations
• Leading with empathy and firsthand perspective

As many employees continue to work from home while others never left the physical workplace, how do you ensure your wellness programs are touching all areas of the workforce? Hear strategies and tactics for communicating with your dispersed employee base.

Employee benefits have shifted in parallel with transformations in how employees work and live – evolving from a once-linear focus on employees’ physical health, to more holistic coverage that accommodates mental, financial and even social well-being. The session will examine how factors like remote and hybrid work and broader cultural trends have driven major changes in benefits offerings – and even how, in some ways, benefits have managed to stay the same.