2026 Employee Benefits Market Outlook 27 Wellness Trends Reshaping the Employee Experience Todays employee expects more than health benefits. Employee wellness has entered a modern era defined by personalization, priority and purpose. Driven largely by younger generations changing the workforce, well- ness is shifting from a perk to a core business strategy. In 2026, organizations are rethinking how they support their workforce not just physically, but also emotionally, socially and professionally. Here are some key trends shaping workplace wellness in 2026. Gen Z and Millennials Are Redefining Wellness Gen Z and millennials make up the majority of the workforceand theyre reshaping wellness expecta- tions. These generations (born between 1981 and 2012) prioritize holistic well-being, flexibility and inclusive- ness. McKinseys Future of Wellness research revealed that 30% of these cohorts are prioritizing wellness a lot more compared with one year ago, versus up to 23% of older generations. Stress, burnout, anxiety and worry are top mental health concerns for Gen Z and millen-nials, and theyre prioritizing health and sleep. Furthermore, the Gen Z and millennial generations generally consider wellness a daily priority, rather than an occasional indulgence. In fact, McKinsey reports that these generations account for more than 41% of annual wellness spending. To put this into perspec-tive, consumers aged 58 and older account for only 28% of wellness spending. These young consumers are more likely to spend their hard-earned money on well- ness-related items and services, including the following: Wearable technology Wellness coaching or retreats Fitness Recovery (e.g., massage tools and IV drips) Nutrition (e.g., supplements, vitamins, energy drinks, gut health and weight management) Skin and hair care (e.g., longevity treatments) Sexual health Somatic healing (e.g., mindfulness and breathing exercises)