How Millennials and Gen Z Are Transforming Workplace Wellbeing Benefits
Millennials and Gen Z are fundamentally reshaping workplace wellbeing expectations, placing greater emphasis on whole-person health that spans physical, mental, financial, and social dimensions. Millennials — now the largest workforce segment at approximately 36% of U.S. employees — report high levels of stress driven by student debt, rising costs, and geopolitical uncertainty, while Gen Z reports the highest levels of mental health concerns of any generation currently working. Both groups expect benefits to be accessible, tech-enabled, and available on demand, and are more likely than older generations to leave employers who fail to meet these needs. Forward-thinking organizations that align benefits strategies with these evolving expectations stand to gain higher productivity, lower absenteeism, and improved talent retention.
In this guide, you'll explore
- Millennials account for approximately 36% of the U.S. workforce and report high levels of emotional and financial stress, making everyday wellbeing support a business-critical priority for employers.
- Gen Z reports the highest levels of stress and mental health concerns of any generation in the workforce, with more than half having been diagnosed or treated for a mental health condition.
- Both generations strongly prefer tech-enabled, on-demand benefits — including mobile platforms, virtual visits, and digital learning — while still valuing human support for complex needs.
- Behavioral health utilization and pediatric mental health claims are at all-time highs, with anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental disorders driving significant increases in benefits usage.
- Organizations that prioritize whole-person wellbeing report up to 20% higher productivity, 10% higher retention rates, and improved ability to attract top talent.