Enhancing Employee Experience in a Digital-First World
Part 3: Optimizing Health and Wellness Programs for Remote Employees
HR leaders today are navigating two complex challenges: the digitization of the workplace, and the evolving landscape of hybrid and remote work. On the blog, we’ve been exploring how to elevate the employee experience with the right strategies, sharing ways to adapt and thrive in this era of constant technological change.
In Part 1 and Part 2, we covered a lot of ground—including some data on the future of remote work, how technology can enhance the employee experience, and some strategies for cultivating a strong company culture and fostering engagement in the digital age. In case you missed them, you can catch up on those blogs here.
In Part 3, we’ll look at the data on work-related stress and discuss strategies to combat digital burnout. We will also explore current wellness programs and make recommendations on how to best support virtual employees’ mental and physical well-being.
Work-Related Stress and Digital Burnout on the Rise
Work-related stress is on the rise. A 2024 study by Robert Half found that 42% of Canadian professionals reported feeling burnt out and constantly connected. Further, recent data from Statistics Canada revealed that that more than 4.1 million Canadians—21.2% of all employed people—reported high or very high levels of work-related stress.
While many employers have implemented work-life balance initiatives, such as flexible work arrangements, there is still room for improvement when it comes to aligning wellness programs with remote work strategies. In an “always connected” culture, employees often struggle to “switch off” after hours, increasing the risk of digital burnout—a state of chronic stress caused by technology overuse.
Recent Gallup research highlights this challenge, noting that while digital tools facilitate flexibility, they also blur the boundaries between work and personal life, contributing to higher stress levels. Addressing this somewhat complex reality requires leaders to be very intentional with their employee wellness programs.
Strategies to Combat Stress and Digital Fatigue
Below are some strategies for leaders that may help their teams reduce workplace stress and avoid digital burnout:
- Talk about boundaries: Respecting employees’ personal time means having an explicit conversation about healthy boundaries, what they look like and why they matter. It’s important to establish clear expectations around disconnecting after the workday ends and discouraging late-night emails and messages.
- Meeting-free days: Consider designating at least one “meeting-free” day for people to focus without constant interruptions. Fridays are usually ideal for this, and everyone will appreciate the time to get organized and have focused working time.
- Set the example: Leaders can model healthy boundaries by taking breaks, not emailing outside work hours, and being honest about their own work preferences. This sets the tone for everyone else to prioritize their mental wellness at work.
- Establish clear expectations. Over the past five years, Gallup research has shown a decline in clarity of expectations at work, with remote and hybrid employees experiencing this decline at twice the rate. Managers can avoid any ambiguity by communicating with their teams and ensuring that their responsibilities are crystal clear.
Businesses will benefit greatly from having teams that are feeling engaged and supported, not burnt out. These simple changes can make a huge impact at any workplace and help people feel like their leaders care about their time, energy, and wellbeing.
Wellness Programs Reimagined
A recent survey from Future Forum indicated that 45% of remote employees report mental health as a top concern, showing just how important it is to have accessible programs in place. To keep up, leaders need to rethink their approach to employee wellbeing—especially for remote teams who might not have access to the same resources as those in a traditional office setting.
Below are some new ways to support remote workers and their wellbeing in 2025:
- Online fitness and meditation classes: Companies can offer online yoga, fitness, nutrition, or meditation classes that employees can attend from home. Apps like Calm, Headspace, Wellable or Aaptiv provide excellent resources and can even be used for internal wellness challenges to encourage participation.
- Uplift employees through recognition. Supporting remote employees goes beyond offering resources—it requires recognition, too. When recognition is done right, it boosts wellbeing by allowing people to feel seen and valued for reasons beyond their workplace contributions.
- Wellness stipends: Offering a stipend for purchasing items like fitness equipment, healthy food, or ergonomic office supplies is another great option that gives remote workers the ability to manage health and wellness from home.
- Company challenges: Organizing wellness challenges such as step count contests, hydration goals, or mindfulness activities can create a sense of camaraderie and motivation among remote teams. A little healthy competition is good for everyone!
In today’s workplace, it’s a good idea for leaders to revisit their wellness programs and ensure they are robust, flexible, and accessible to everyone—no matter where they are working from. Ultimately, practices that put people first is the key to enhancing the overall employee experience. If people are happy, engaged, and productive, your bottom line and employer brand will absolutely reflect that.
We hope you enjoyed this blog series and can utilize some of the solutions and strategies in your future plans. At Gameplan HR™, we understand that HR has become far more difficult to manage in our current culture. Not only are we managing benefits, insurance, and onboarding, but mental health sensitivity, remote work options, and the ability to utilize time off with more flexibility. These things are crucial for hiring and keeping great people.
Partner with Gameplan for a customized, people-first suite of tools, strategies, and support that builds a healthy organization where employees want to stay. Check out our services and fix the gaps in your game plan today! https://www.gameplanhr.ca/our-services/