The challenges employees face outside of the workplace can have a big impact on their mental and physical health—and they’re asking employers for benefits that help.

When it comes to employee weight loss resources, GLP-1 has become a popular benefit to offer. However, workers want more than just medicine, according to a new survey from weight management program provider Wondr Health. Lifestyle guidance and mental health were some of the options Dr. Tim Church, Wondr’s Chief Medical Officer, discussed with EBN.

“It looks like employees really care about lifestyle changes, which makes me happy because it means they know what’s critical to the success of these medications,” says Dr. Church. “These medications are not one-offs, but an important tool in the toolbox.”

Read what more employees are looking for to finish their weight loss journey: Employees need more than GLP-1 to manage their weight

Today’s political climate takes an emotional toll on many people, but can also interfere with jobseekers’ ability to find work. What was recently a bountiful job market has shrunk, and employers aren’t as eager to hire as they were following covid, said Emily Levine, vice president of recruiting and consulting firm Career Group Companies.

“Hiring managers take much longer to make hiring decisions and are much more careful when making those decisions,” Levine says. “Employers are also much more conservative with their spending, which also affects how much money they offer, and all of this adds up to a season of unpredictability overall.”

Read Levine’s take on the hiring climate and her advice for job seekers: Is the 2024 election to blame for the current job market?

Substance abuse disorders among workers are more common than employers may think, and it is critical that they are proactive in establishing a recovery workplace to support and engage those struggling with addiction.

“By and large, people don’t feel comfortable asking for these kinds of benefits simply because of the stigma associated with it,” says Dr. Yusuf Sherwani, Co-founder and CEO of Pelago. “The negative consequences are a big part of why (they) don’t talk about it. Where we’ve seen employers bridge the gap is when they’ve really embraced this notion of a resilient workplace.”

Read Dr. Sherwani’s advice on how to establish the culture and benefit offerings that give employees what they need to be healthy: 3 Ways to Establish an Addiction Recovery Workplace

Along with basic benefits, some companies go all out with unique offerings in hopes of retaining talent. Preply published a list of benefits from companies like Meta, HubSpot and Adobe, which offer their employees perks like breast milk transport, housing allowances and extended sabbaticals.

See what other benefits work to retain employees: On-site spa and laundry at work? 20 of the most unusual employee benefits