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187. Wellness Trends for 2025: What Will Shock Your HR Department · The Kathie Owen Perspective Podcast

• 0:00
  Kathie: It feels so good to finally be here to share valuable information on corporate wellness.
• 0:07
  Kathie: And today we're going to talk about trends for 2025.
• 0:11
  Kathie: Be sure to stay to the end because I have a bonus trend that's happening in 2025.
• 0:17
  Kathie: That you probably haven't heard of.
• 0:21
  Kathie: Hey everyone.
• 0:22
  Kathie: Kathie Owen here, your go to for all things, corporate wellness today, we're diving into some seriously awesome trends for 2025 in the world of corporate wellness, and I'm going to break it all down for you.
• 0:38
  Kathie: In a fun, actionable way, whether you're an HR pro aspiring corporate wellness director or a leader, looking to boost your team's productivity.
• 0:49
  Kathie: This video is for you.
• 0:53
  Kathie: So grab a cup of coffee or your Stanley and let's get to it.
• 1:02
  Kathie: Trend number one.
• 1:03
  Kathie: Mental health matters.
• 1:07
  Kathie: All right.
• 1:07
  Kathie: First step, we've got mental health taking center stage in corporate wellness.
• 1:13
  Kathie: And honestly, it's about time, right?
• 1:17
  Kathie: We're not just talking about checking in on people when they're already burnt out.
• 1:23
  Kathie: We're talking about creating an environment where mental health is supported every day.
• 1:30
  Kathie: A recent survey by the American psychological association found that a whopping 79% of employees.
• 1:38
  Kathie: Report experiencing stress at work.
• 1:42
  Kathie: And 36% said mental health is their number one priority.
• 1:48
  Kathie: That's crazy.
• 1:49
  Kathie: But here's the thing, companies that prioritize mental health, see massive benefits, less burnout, more engagement, and higher productivity.
• 2:00
  Kathie: When I work with teams, we're not just talking about therapy or crisis management.
• 2:06
  Kathie: I help build mental health initiatives into the fabric of the company and the culture, things like mindfulness workshops, mental health days and daily check-ins can create a workplace where people feel safe and supported.
• 2:24
  Kathie: Oh, and real quick, if you're ready to take mental health seriously at your company, hit that like button and drop a comment below telling me what you're doing to support your team's wellbeing.
• 2:38
  Kathie: Let's start a conversation and share ideas.
• 2:41
  Kathie: Be sure to check the show notes and description below for bonus resources.
• 2:47
  Kathie: Next up hybrid work and wellness.
• 2:51
  Kathie: Now I know a lot of us are juggling remote teams and in office teams and everything in between while remote work offers a ton of flexibility.
• 3:02
  Kathie: It also comes with some challenges like isolation and disengagement.
• 3:08
  Kathie: And we don't want to do that.
• 3:10
  Kathie: That's where virtual wellness challenges and online fitness classes can come in.
• 3:16
  Kathie: Fun fact companies that keep their teams connected through wellness activities.
• 3:21
  Kathie: See 17% higher productivity, according to Gallup.
• 3:26
  Kathie: Let's get creative here.
• 3:28
  Kathie: Think step challenges, virtual yoga, or even just quick daily.
• 3:34
  Kathie: Check-ins trust me these small things.
• 3:37
  Kathie: Make a huge difference.
• 3:40
  Kathie: And Hey, if you're running a hybrid or a remote team, tell me in the comments what's working for you, how are you keeping your people engaged?
• 3:49
  Kathie: I'd love to hear what's working.
• 3:50
  Kathie: And what's not, and don't forget to subscribe for more tips on keeping your team healthy and thriving.
• 3:59
  Kathie: All right.
• 3:59
  Kathie: Trend number three.
• 4:01
  Kathie: Personalized wellness programs.
• 4:03
  Kathie: Let's talk about personalization because one size fits all does not cut it when it comes to wellness anymore, employees want options, right?
• 4:14
  Kathie: And why shouldn't they, some of your team members might be into physical fitness while others might need mental health support.
• 4:23
  Kathie: Or financial wellness resources.
• 4:26
  Kathie: So the trend for 2025 is a customized wellness program that fits individual needs.
• 4:36
  Kathie: Imagine this, you give your team wellness assessments.
• 4:39
  Kathie: I love these by the way, to find out what they actually want, whether it's yoga classes, access to meditation apps, or even financial planning workshops, then you can tailor your programs based on what works for them.
• 4:55
  Kathie: I've seen engagement levels skyrocket when companies that start offering wellness programs based on real employee input.
• 5:05
  Kathie: People feel heard when they feel heard, they show up and they participate.
• 5:11
  Kathie: Trend number four.
• 5:13
  Kathie: Flexible work for burnout prevention.
• 5:16
  Kathie: All right.
• 5:17
  Kathie: You've heard the term burnout about a million times now, right?
• 5:22
  Kathie: That's because it is real.
• 5:25
  Kathie: The world health organization.
• 5:28
  Kathie: Actually classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon.
• 5:32
  Kathie: And guess what?
• 5:33
  Kathie: Flexible work policies are one of the best ways to combat it.
• 5:39
  Kathie: We're talking remote work options, four day work weeks, and giving people control over their schedules.
• 5:46
  Kathie: When companies implement these types of policies, they see higher engagement and lower turnover.
• 5:52
  Kathie: I mean, who wouldn't want a work environment where they feel trusted?
• 5:57
  Kathie: And can manage their time more effectively.
• 6:00
  Kathie: In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret.
• 6:03
  Kathie: Some companies are even doing focus weeks.
• 6:08
  Kathie: Focus weeks.
• 6:10
  Kathie: Where they limit meetings and let employees focus solely on their work.
• 6:14
  Kathie: That's genius.
• 6:16
  Kathie: Less burnout, more productivity.
• 6:19
  Kathie: Be sure to check out this video.
• 6:22
  Kathie: Right here on a time, I was bullied out of the workplace and there was no trust involved.
• 6:28
  Kathie: It's a pretty powerful insight on burnout prevention too.
• 6:32
  Kathie: I will link it in the show notes and description below.
• 6:35
  Kathie: By the way did you know, I include a blog post on every video and podcast episode.
• 6:41
  Kathie: I do.
• 6:42
  Kathie: That blog posts, adds bonus resources, and more.
• 6:46
  Kathie: It's always linked in the show notes and description below.
• 6:50
  Kathie: All right.
• 6:51
  Kathie: Trend number five.
• 6:52
  Kathie: Physical wellness beyond the gym.
• 6:55
  Kathie: Now let's talk about physical wellness and no I'm not just talking about throwing a gym membership at your employees and calling it a day.
• 7:03
  Kathie: Physical wellness goes beyond that now.
• 7:06
  Kathie: And it's all about functional movement and recovery.
• 7:10
  Kathie: Keeping your team active throughout the day and ensuring they recover properly.
• 7:16
  Kathie: Companies are integrating things like standing desks, stretch breaks.
• 7:21
  Kathie: And even offering mobility workshops during work hours, some of our even adding sleep seminars.
• 7:29
  Kathie: You know, I love me some sleep.
• 7:32
  Kathie: And into their wellness programs.
• 7:35
  Kathie: Yep.
• 7:36
  Kathie: Sleep because let's face it when your team is well rested, they're more focused, productive, and ready to crush the day.
• 7:47
  Kathie: Trend number six, financial wellness.
• 7:51
  Kathie: Financial stress is another biggie.
• 7:55
  Kathie: Did you know that one of the top causes of anxiety among employees?
• 8:00
  Kathie: Is financial stress.
• 8:02
  Kathie: That's why financial wellness has become a huge part of corporate wellness programs.
• 8:07
  Kathie: Offering resources like financial literacy workshops or even student loan assistance can reduce this stress and improve your team's focus and engagement.
• 8:18
  Kathie: When people feel financially secure, they bring their a game to work.
• 8:23
  Kathie: It really is that simple.
• 8:27
  Kathie: If you're looking ways to help your team in this area, let me know.
• 8:30
  Kathie: I got tons of ideas on how to integrate financial wellness into your programs.
• 8:36
  Kathie: And if you're enjoying this video so far, be sure to give it a thumbs up and share with someone who could use a little wellness, inspiration.
• 8:44
  Kathie: All right.
• 8:45
  Kathie: Trend number seven.
• 8:46
  Kathie: We've got two more to go.
• 8:48
  Kathie: Remember, one of them is a bonus.
• 8:50
  Kathie: So trend number seven.
• 8:52
  Kathie: Is data driven wellness programs.
• 8:56
  Kathie: So let's talk data.
• 8:57
  Kathie: I know, I know wellness and data might not sound like they go together, but trust me, they do the most effective wellness programs are data driven.
• 9:08
  Kathie: This means.
• 9:09
  Kathie: Measuring things like employee engagement, job satisfaction.
• 9:13
  Kathie: And even healthcare costs to prove that your wellness program.
• 9:18
  Kathie: Is delivering real results.
• 9:21
  Kathie: It's all about showing the return on the investment, the ROI of wellness.
• 9:27
  Kathie: You can use quarterly surveys, gather feedback from your team and track improvements in team dynamics and productivity.
• 9:35
  Kathie: When you start making data-driven decisions, you can fine tune your wellness strategy to be even more effective.
• 9:44
  Kathie: And the best part you're not just guessing and throwing spaghetti at the wall.
• 9:49
  Kathie: You're getting real time feedback that helps you make targeted improvements.
• 9:55
  Kathie: All right.
• 9:56
  Kathie: Trend number eight that we're seeing in 2025 is leadership in wellness success.
• 10:02
  Kathie: Let's talk about one of the most important factors in any wellness program across the board.
• 10:07
  Kathie: And that is leadership.
• 10:10
  Kathie: I can't stress this enough.
• 10:12
  Kathie: If leadership isn't onboard, your wellness initiatives will struggle to gain traction employees, look to their managers and leaders for cues on how to behave.
• 10:22
  Kathie: And it's the higher ups are practicing what they preach.
• 10:25
  Kathie: It's hard for wellness programs to thrive.
• 10:29
  Kathie: Think about it.
• 10:30
  Kathie: If you're running a corporate wellness program, but the managers are working 24 7, skipping breaks, walking around the office with a scowl on their face, not participating in wellness events or even encouraging it.
• 10:45
  Kathie: What kind of message does that send to the rest of the team?
• 10:48
  Kathie: Yeah, exactly.
• 10:51
  Kathie: The key is for leaders to model healthy behaviors.
• 10:55
  Kathie: That could mean encouraging them to take breaks.
• 10:58
  Kathie: Participate in wellness challenges, checking on team members, and even talking openly about mental health.
• 11:06
  Kathie: When leadership champions wellness, it sends a clear signal.
• 11:10
  Kathie: We value your wellbeing and we're going to walk the talk.
• 11:17
  Kathie: I've seen teams absolutely transformed when the C-suite starts to show up to wellness events or actively taking part in mindfulness sessions.
• 11:27
  Kathie: Smiling when they walk around the building, and being available to team members to see them during the Workday or team fitness challenges, it creates a ripple effect of positivity and engagement.
• 11:41
  Kathie: You know, I'm all about that.
• 11:45
  Kathie: You know, there was a time when the C-suite team members.
• 11:49
  Kathie: Actually came to my fitness classes.
• 11:52
  Kathie: And there was also a time when the CEO would walk around the building.
• 11:55
  Kathie: And when someone asked how they were doing after she greeted them, of course, they would say, how are you?
• 12:03
  Kathie: She'd answer very enthusiastically.
• 12:05
  Kathie: Unbelievable.
• 12:07
  Kathie: And this created a ripple effect.
• 12:10
  Kathie: And it also made her more approachable.
• 12:14
  Kathie: Than the person sitting up there in her office all the time, working.
• 12:18
  Kathie: Talk about a ripple effect.
• 12:20
  Kathie: All right, drum roll, please.
• 12:22
  Kathie: Here's your bonus.
• 12:24
  Kathie: Trend number nine for 2025.
• 12:29
  Kathie: It's motivational speakers with a lasting impact.
• 12:33
  Kathie: What do I mean by that?
• 12:34
  Kathie: Okay.
• 12:35
  Kathie: So here's something I'm super excited about for 2025.
• 12:40
  Kathie: Imagine you bring in a motivational speaker to inspire your team.
• 12:45
  Kathie: Everyone's fired up and the energy is through the roof, but then what happens?
• 12:50
  Kathie: A few days later that motivation, fades, sound familiar.
• 12:55
  Kathie: I think we've all been there.
• 12:57
  Kathie: It's a pretty common scenario, but here's where the magic happens.
• 13:01
  Kathie: When I started doing this, and this is becoming a huge trend.
• 13:05
  Kathie: Following up on motivational speaking events with corporate wellness programs that keep the message alive.
• 13:13
  Kathie: And after the speaker leaves.
• 13:15
  Kathie: I come in to lead workshops on topics like motivation, mental health, and overall wellness.
• 13:22
  Kathie: This way, the energy from the speech doesn't just fizzle out.
• 13:27
  Kathie: It gets transformed into actionable steps and ongoing support.
• 13:32
  Kathie: Think of it as creating a wellness journey for your team.
• 13:36
  Kathie: Starting with the burst of inspiration and then keeping the team engaged with practical workshops that reinforce the message.
• 13:45
  Kathie: It's one of the best ways to inspire your team, to stay motivated and consistently engage in your wellness programs with their health and wellness goals.
• 13:58
  Kathie: If that sounds like something your team could use.
• 14:00
  Kathie: Let me know in the comments below.
• 14:02
  Kathie: And if you're working with a motivational speaker, drop their name below, I'd love to hear how you're keeping the energy going long after the event ends.
• 14:13
  Kathie: Don't forget to hit that subscribe button and share this video with your team so you can all stay on top of the latest wellness trends.
• 14:23
  Kathie: All right.
• 14:23
  Kathie: My friends there, you have it.
• 14:25
  Kathie: Some of the hottest trends in 2025 and corporate wellness that are helping companies create engaged, productive, and happy teams, whether it's mental health.
• 14:36
  Kathie: Physical wellness.
• 14:38
  Kathie: Flexible work motivation or financial support.
• 14:42
  Kathie: There are so many ways to build a wellness program that truly makes an impact.
• 14:48
  Kathie: Now I want to hear from you.
• 14:50
  Kathie: What wellness trends are you most excited to implement?
• 14:54
  Kathie: Drop a comment below and let's chat about it.
• 14:57
  Kathie: And if you're ready to take your corporate wellness program to the next level, make sure you subscribe and hit that notification bell and share this video with your team.
• 15:09
  Kathie: Let's make wellness a priority for every workplace thanks for watching.
• 15:16
  Kathie: And I'll see you in the next video.
• 15:19
  Kathie: Peace out and Namaste.