Making investments in employee health can be critical to boosting an organization’s productivity and success. McKinsey research shows that improving employee health and well-being could generate $3.7 trillion to $11.7 trillion in global economic value. As many workers continue to struggle with stress and burnout, it’s important for leaders to take a holistic view of employee health that encompasses physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. This week, we look at the current state of workforce health and how organizations can help employees thrive.

METABOLIC HEALTH FOR ALL

Since late 2023, demand has soared for weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and other brands, putting some companies and employees at odds over insurance coverage for these medications. Yet the popularity of these GLP-1 drugs could lead to broader and vital improvements in metabolic health, according to Senior Partners and MHI Global Leaders Drew Ungerman and Hemant Ahlawat and their coauthors. “The rise of GLP-1s is shifting the discussion of obesity from an intractable issue to a treatable medical condition—a change that is inspiring investment and innovation across industries, including healthcare, medtech, food, and retail,” they say. Rather than reacting to obesity with weight management drugs and medical treatments, the authors observe that society can pursue greater prevention efforts such as advancing scientific understanding of metabolic health and making healthy food more accessible. They estimate that such efforts could lead to an estimated annual GDP gain of $5.65 trillion in 2050. 

Lead by enhancing employee health.