[2023 HR Trend] Employee and workplace well-being

Workplace stress is a growing concern that has significant impacts on employees’ mental and physical well-being, as well as their relationships with friends, family, and colleagues. According to a recent report by the Surgeon General on Mental Health and Well-being, 81% of workers are actively seeking workplaces that prioritize mental health.

Delta Air Lines is one company that is taking a proactive approach to addressing employee well-being. Under the leadership of CEO Ed Bastian, Delta has appointed Dr. Henry Ting as its first Chief Health and Well-being Officer, with a focus on addressing the whole person rather than just the individual worker.

As part of Delta’s people strategy, Dr. Ting, along with Dr. Nilay Shah and Dr. Shaheen Kurani, partnered with FLORENS to launch the Flourishing Index Survey in 2022. The survey received responses from nearly 24,000 Delta employees from around the world, with an additional 250 qualitative interviews conducted to identify opportunities for well-being interventions.

Delta’s well-being interventions include expanding mental health treatment by offering employees and their household members twelve free counseling sessions per year, an increase from seven. Delta is also piloting a healthier food footprint by incorporating more affordable and nutritious food options in their cafeterias and break rooms. Finally, the company is offering new financial education programs that incentivize employees to work with coaches to improve their personal finance skills, such as budgeting, credit management, and savings.

According to Dr. Shah, Delta’s efforts to embed well-being into its culture are the first steps towards creating an environment where employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, including work, home, and community. As companies recognize the importance of supporting employee well-being, initiatives like Delta’s can serve as examples of how businesses can prioritize their workers’ health and happiness.