New analysis shows US employers lag behind in offering mental health and preventive care, even though evidence links wellness benefits to retention and performance.
Los Angeles, CA, United States, January 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/- A new nationwide study by GatekeeperMD analyzed more than 100,000 US job listings and revealed that only half of jobs offer any type of health benefits. This gap is far greater than the missed opportunities for employee support. In an increasingly competitive labor market, this represents a real risk to retention, engagement and employer branding, as employee wellness has moved from a secondary perk to a core expectation.
As absenteeism, burnout and health care costs continue to rise, research is increasingly linking employee health to productivity, engagement and workforce stability. Yet many employers across the US continue to underinvest in preventive and personal health support, despite evidence that these approaches can reduce turnover and long-term labor costs.
Mental health, preventive care, and recovery benefits are scarce
Three out of four Americans say they would accept lower wages in exchange for better health care benefits, underscoring how much welfare now influences employment decisions. Despite these rising expectations, data from ConciergeMD shows that overall well-being is limited in most American job postings. Of all job listings examined, 49% included employer-sponsored health benefits. Among lists that include any health-related benefit, the most common offering is health insurance. Only 18% of the lists mention mental health support, such as Employee Assistance Program (EAP), therapy, or counseling. Preventive care initiatives, including annual physical or wellness checkups, appear in only 9% of listings.
Health benefits as a strategic advantage
Employee well-being is increasingly linked to retention and cost control. Replacing a salaried employee can cost the equivalent of an average of six to nine months’ annual salary, once recruiting, onboarding and lost productivity are taken into account. Conversely, HR leaders agree that wellness programs significantly boost employee productivity and help reduce sick days, turnover, and recruiting costs (1). Employer-sponsored health insurance and wellness programs can achieve an average ROI of up to 47% (2).
“Employee wellness is not a reactive cost center; it’s a proactive performance strategy,” says Dr. Neel Kumar, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of ConciergeMD. “Programs that include comprehensive screening, tailored laboratory testing and direct physician access strengthen retention, foster culture and drive performance across the board.”
Corporate wellness in practice: a structural approach matters
Harvard Business Review notes that preventive wellness initiatives can deliver solid returns by reducing burnout and stabilizing workforce performance, rather than simply adding another line item to benefit expenses (3). Experts note that not all wellness programs produce equal results. One-size-fits-all programs often fail to deliver measurable results and may exclude employees with chronic conditions, caregiving responsibilities, or high workloads (4). The value of wellness comes less from individual benefits and more from a structured approach that strengthens long-term health and workforce availability. As Dr. Kumar explains:
“I regularly see employers underestimate the cost of waiting. Too often, health is addressed only when the problem arises. Corporate wellness only makes a real impact when it is designed as a structured strategy with programs tailored to employee needs. Employers should choose providers that focus on one-on-one solutions, such as personalized health optimization plans.”
What personalized corporate wellness looks like in practice
Personalized wellness programs go beyond standardized benefits by tailoring care to health profiles, roles and work environments. In practice, such programs rely on health assessment, physician-led counseling, and preventive screening aligned with individual risk profiles. Programs can also be designed flexibly, ranging from one-time wellness days and leadership retreats to ongoing initiatives tailored to company-wide health goals and the size of the workforce.
To reduce the administrative burden for HR teams, medically supervised providers are offering end-to-end planning, from scheduling and on-site setup to employee education and medical documentation. This approach allows wellness initiatives to scale to small teams or larger organizations, while maintaining consistency, clinical monitoring, and participation.
Source:
(1) WellHub study reveals strong return on investment for corporate wellness programs
(2) Forbes: Employee Wellness: A New Perspective on ROI
(3) Harvard Business School: How workplace wellness programs can give employees the energy boost they need
(4) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Making Workplace Health Promotion (Wellness) Programs “Work”
Methodology: The analysis includes over 100,000 job postings from popular job portals in 20 major US cities. Employee allowances were classified into seven different areas, with most postings offering multiple categories of allowances. Cities were selected based on population size and geographic diversity to ensure a representative snapshot of the US workforce. The study spans more than 20 industries and includes details by company size to reveal sector-specific and organizational differences in benefits offered.
More information about the study, including a full list of sources, can be found here: https://conciergemdla.com/what-100000-job-listings-reveal-about-todays-employee-benefits/
About ConciergeMD: ConciergeMD is on a mission to make better health more convenient for everyone. Founded by Dr. Abe Malkin and Dr. Neel Kumar, MD/MBA, both of Tufts University School of Medicine, ConciergeMD delivers next-generation care that blends clinical excellence with flexibility. One founder is a board-certified family medicine physician, the other a board-certified dermatologist, bringing deep expertise in both general and specialty care. Whether you’re optimizing your longevity, looking for primary care at home or on the go, or facing an urgent health concern, ConciergeMD offers personalized in-home and virtual medical services nationwide. Services include comprehensive health assessments, house calls and around-the-clock virtual visits, all designed to support your health and lifespan. Learn more here www.conciergemdla.com.
Nadine Blocher
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