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2024 Eyecare Trends that are Essential Elements to Whole-Body Wellness
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we begin 2024 with all the new year has to offer, we are looking at trends in eyecare and eyewear that could make an even bigger impact during the new year. Brokers who effectively convey this valuable information to their clients can help them leverage these trends. Employers, in turn, can use these insights to show their employees they are listening.
Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise noted, the stats presented throughout the article are from Transitions, 2023 Workplace Wellness Survey, Wakefield Research, N=500 U.S. adults, ages 18+, employed full-time or part-time, whose employers offer vision benefits, and 500 U.S. adults, ages 18+, self-employed and enrolled in individual health plans or private pay.
Trend #1: Employees are Focusing on Holistic Health We continue to see employees focusing on holistic health, a trend that has been top of mind for many people over the last few years. A CVS Health® study found more than three out of four people report the COVID-19 pandemic has led them to pay more attention to their health in general.
(CVS Health®, 2021 Health Care Insights Study, N=1,000 U.S. adults, ages 18+. https://www. cvshealth.com/news/community/new-cvs-healthstudy-finds-people-are-taking-greater-control-of. html)
In line with the trend on holistic health, business owners and their workers are focusing on mental health, as well as physical health. Together, they are working on ways to be more productive while avoiding burnout. For example, according to a recent survey from the Future Forum Pulse, burnout is on the rise globally, most significantly in the U.S., where 43% of middle managers reported burnout. (Future
Forum Pulse, August 2022. https://futureforum.com/ research/pulse-report-fall-2022-executives-feelstrain-leading-in-new-normal/)
30 | CALIFORNIA BROKER
By Jonathan Ormsby Considering that our overall health is not just physical, but also mental and emotional, employees are focusing on taking care of themselves holistically. A full 96% of employees surveyed in the Transitions Survey said they are likely to visit a healthcare provider in the next 12 months, most likely a primary care provider, dentist, or eyecare professional. The survey also showed that employees (89%) are regularly partaking in other healthy activities, including eating healthy foods, exercising, meditating and yoga, and/or visiting a mental health professional. With these findings, we are seeing that people are taking a greater interest in their own health, and are actively engaging in healthy habits, from taking yoga to visiting their eyecare professional for an eye exam. To keep holistic health top of mind, this year, brokers can recommend that employers focus on offering holistic benefit programs, including premium vision benefits to their employees. Be aware that a whopping 78% of employees reported to Willis Tower Watson that they are more likely to stay with an employer because of their benefits program. That should get your client’s attention! (Willis Tower Watson, 2018.
https://www.compt.io/employee-perks-statistics).
Trend #2: Eye Breaks Are the Next Workplace Wellness Initiative Over the last several years, employees have reported issues with their eyes. We CalBrokerMag.com
don’t see that trend slowing down in 2024. According to the 2023 Transitions Survey, nearly half (49%) of employees cite eyestrain/eye fatigue as negatively impacting their productivity and performance. As the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the amount of time spent in front of computer screens and phones, 45% of employees cite digital eyestrain symptoms like headaches and 38% cite blurry vision as negative impacts on their productivity. Encouraging employees to take breaks regularly to rest the eyes and prevent eye strain is shaping up to be an important workplace wellness initiative to help improve employee productivity in 2024. These eye breaks are shown to be the top preferred workplace wellness initiative with employees: 56% of respondents prefer it in comparison to: • financial assistance for fitness (39%) • financial assistance for therapy sessions or mental health activities (34%), JANUARY 2024
