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Sponsored by: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
June 11, 2025

Well-Being Works: 5 Reasons It Pays to Prioritize Your People

In today’s evolving workforce landscape, the connection between employee well-being and business performance is clearer than ever. Organizations that prioritize mental, physical, and emotional wellness are seeing the benefits in productivity, retention, and bottom-line results.

Here are the top five reasons why investing in employee well-being isn’t just compassionate leadership—it’s smart business.

1. Healthy Employees Drive Better Business Outcomes

When employees feel well, they perform well. From reduced absenteeism and turnover to stronger engagement and morale, a healthy workforce is a more effective one. According to national data, organizations that invest in employee wellness report higher productivity and lower health care costs. For businesses navigating a tight labor market and rising benefit expenses, this investment can pay off quickly.

2. Preventive Care Lowers Long-Term Costs

Preventive health services—like annual checkups, cancer screenings, and flu vaccinations—aren’t just good for people; they’re good for business. Anthem works with employers to create health plan designs that reward employees for engaging in preventive care. These proactive strategies catch health issues early, reduce emergency care visits, and improve outcomes over time. When employees use their benefits for prevention, everyone wins.

3. Mental Health Is a Workforce Essential

The pandemic fundamentally shifted how employees view their mental health—and how employers need to support it. Anxiety, stress, and burnout are real business risks, affecting everything from customer service to team cohesion. Companies are increasingly offering virtual counseling, mindfulness apps, and open conversations around mental health to support their teams. At Anthem, we encourage a holistic approach: physical, mental, and emotional health are all connected, and they should be treated that way in benefit design and workplace culture.

4. A Culture of Well-Being Strengthens the Workplace

Well-being isn’t just about benefits—it’s about the culture you create. When leaders actively promote balance, model healthy behavior, and encourage the use of wellness resources, it sends a powerful message: taking care of yourself is part of the job. Whether it’s offering flexible schedules, promoting mental health conversations, or recognizing small wins, fostering a culture that prioritizes people helps employees feel valued, supported, and more connected to their work. At Anthem, we see that companies with strong wellness cultures experience higher morale, lower burnout, and a deeper sense of team purpose.

5. Well-Being Builds Loyalty That Lasts

In today’s competitive job market, retaining great talent is just as important as recruiting it. Companies that prioritize employee well-being create environments where people feel seen, supported, and genuinely cared for—and that fosters loyalty. When employees know their health and work-life balance matter, they’re more likely to stay, grow, and advocate for the organization. From mental health support and proactive manager check-ins to meaningful time-off policies, a consistent focus on well-being shows employees they’re more than a number. At Anthem, we’ve seen firsthand how this leads to greater satisfaction, lower turnover, and long-term team stability.

In Closing: Well-being isn’t a trend—it’s a business imperative. Employers who lead with care and strategy are not only enhancing lives but also building stronger, more sustainable organizations.

At Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine, we’re proud to support businesses across the state in designing health benefits that meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.

Because when employees thrive, businesses do too. 

Denise McDonough, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine, oversees Anthem’s business serving individuals and groups and drives improvements in healthcare access, quality, outcomes, and affordability.