Eighty-one percent of employers in the U.S. said mental health issues at work contribute to absences, according to a study by Guardian.

Half of U.S. employers report a surge in mental health claims, the data showed, with 40% reporting their top absence management priority is helping employees stay at work. At the same time, 36% say it's ensuring policies and procedures are compliant, 33% say it's creating a culture of care, empathy and well-being, while 29% say it is supporting an employee in their return to safe and meaningful work.

New findings from the Nationwide Retirement Institute has revealed that even insured Americans are struggling to manage rising healthcare costs, leading many to delay or skip essential care.

According to the results, nearly 37% of insured adults reported avoiding medical care when sick due to costs, and 41% have skipped appointments over the past year. Preventive services are particularly affected - dental cleanings (23%), vision tests (20%), specialist visits (17%) and mental health care (16%) have been postponed or canceled. While these measures reduce immediate expenses, they may increase long-term health and financial risks in retirement.

With open enrollment for 2026 health benefits in full swing, eHealth released findings from a new survey showing that most Americans are happy with their coverage options for next year, despite many people expressing surprise with the cost of plan premiums.

When it comes to Medicare Advantage enrollment trends, new eHealth data shows consumers are selecting plans with higher out-of-pocket maximums, while deductibles have declined slightly compared to last year.

eHealth's survey of more than 1,500 Americans highlights opinions from people enrolled in Medicare, employer-based plans, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, including:

Gen Z has coined another buzzy new phrase to show their engagement with workplace benefits and perks.

Young workers are in their "benefitmaxxing era," having recognized the importance of their employee benefit offerings, and are doing the most to tailor those experiences to their specific needs.

"Gen Z isn't accepting the status quo in a way that's pretty dramatic," says Alex Powell, director of insights at employee engagement platform Reward Gateway. "They are willing to flex and bend when it comes to what does and doesn't work for them."

The annual chaos of open enrollment may be largely behind us, but for HR teams, the work of maximizing employee benefits is just beginning. Now, as leaders pivot to 2026 planning and strategy, they confront a crucial opportunity to drive engagement across benefits programs.

One powerful and timely benefit that requires this strategic focus is the Health Savings Account (HSA). Even though the eligible market for HSAs is now larger than ever, many employees underutilize these benefits due to pervasive confusion, siloed tools, and complex management. Looking ahead to next year, how can HR and benefits leaders cut through the clutter and empower employees to take advantage of all options available to them?

The answer requires HR leaders to rethink their strategies through more of a consumer lens, and identify the channels, messages and behavioral insights that inspire action.

In an economic environment defined by uncertainty, maintaining wellness at work—and at home—is critical. Wellhub’s latest Worklife Wellness report finds that 86% of employees consider their wellness at work as important as their salary. At the same time, 89% of workers say they perform better when they prioritize their well-being. If someone feels burnt out, stressed, or unsupported, no paycheck is enough to make that sustainable, says Livia Martini, chief people officer at Wellhub. 

The 2025 EBN Workplace Well-being Survey shows a clear divide in how different organizational groups prioritize employee wellness when making business decisions. While nearly all HR leaders (96%) say well-being is a top or constant consideration, just three-quarters of executive leaders (74%) and two-thirds of company owners (65%) share that same focus.

Nearly two-thirds of construction workers reported experiencing anxiety or depression in the past 12 months, according to a new survey by design-build firm Clayco.

Sixty-four percent of the more than 1,000 construction workers surveyed said they felt the impact of these mental health challenges in the past year—up from 54% in 2024.