In what business leaders have named “the Great Resignation,” Americans are leaving their employers in numbers not seen in decades. For example, between March and July 2021, 19 million workers quit their jobs, even though 28% had no replacement jobs lined up.

Experts cite various reasons for this phenomenon, such as employee burnout, lack of flexibility in work hours and location, and a desire for higher wages, but one factor stands out. The pandemic has caused millions to realize how their jobs negatively impact their mental and physical wellbeing.  As a result, people now want to work at healthy, compassionate workplaces that enhance and don’t detract from their overall quality of life.

Many people today feel unappreciated and treated like replaceable widgets by their employers. With more job openings than available workers, Americans feel empowered to demand better wages and working conditions – and walking out if they don’t get them. They expect employers to value their employees’ safety and wellbeing, especially in industries such as distribution and manufacturing with a high occurrence of musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries. Fewer workers are willing to risk the devastating long-term effects of MSK injuries, such as a lifetime of chronic pain and discomfort, lost wages, and mental distress.

Total Wellness Programs Aids both Employee Recruitment and Retention

To avoid ongoing workforce churn and associated business disruptions, employers may want to change how they support and care for employees. High turnover is costly, both in lost productivity and disrupted operations. It takes time to find and train new workers, and replacing experienced employees with specialized skills can be difficult. Investing in total employee wellness and safety gives organizations a competitive edge in a tight job market, helping them recruit and retain valuable employees.

Workers are more loyal to organizations that demonstrate their commitment to employee wellness by offering programs and services such as health screenings, fitness classes, and onsite physical therapists (PT). Programs that safeguard worker health and safety can lead to a more productive workforce with higher morale and less absenteeism/presenteeism. And the programs can help you retain skilled workers who are already proven capable of doing the job.