Crystal balls are not always accurate, as businesses learned when the pandemic hit a few months into 2020. Nevertheless, it helps to look ahead to the trends that are likely to shape the coming year.

“It is hard to predict what will happen in the next phases of the pandemic, as it is very much related to our collective drive to move forward with vaccinations and other health measures that are evidence-based and very effective,” according to a new report from MediKeeper. “It is, however, a little easier to predict what is happening now and will continue to happen in 2022 from an employee health and wellness trend perspective. Understanding these trends can help organizations better plan for 2022 and beyond, and help best support their people to be engaged and thrive in a positive culture.” MediKeeper suggests keeping an eye on five emerging trends. COVID-19

Employers have digital tools at their disposal to help them to safety return people and customers to offices and business locations. Vaccination and testing-status tracking solutions will be needed from the start of 2022 onward. The flipside is living with COVID risk, which will not go away anytime soon. Because there is strong evidence that people with chronic health conditions are at increased risk for severe outcomes, it makes sense to arm employees with additional support beyond vaccination by helping them become engaged in improving their health status.

Brain health and psychological safety

Burn-out levels are at an all-time high in, with no end in sight and are affecting the ability to work and live. The need for brain health-related solutions will continue to rise in 2022. Stress, anxiety and depression are much more common, as are the effects of negative coping strategies such as increases in alcohol, substance use and abuse. The increase in brain health issues started before the pandemic, has accelerated and shows no signs of slowing down.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Organizations will continue to focus on improving diversity, equity and inclusion for their people and their organizations. The trend of employers being supportive in a tight labor market will be a driving force in 2022. Racism, ageism, ableism and gender equality are key issues for employers to address from a variety of perspectives, including health.

Financial health

Low financial literacy is only part of the problem and actual budgeting and savings are crucial for their people to be engaged. Savings have improved recently, but fundamental, sustainable behavior change when it comes to personal and family finance is critical for many people, including those in the most precarious positions. Financial wellbeing is a pillar of any well-designed and holistic health and wellness program.

Data-driven decision-making

Technology that has strong data reporting or even elements of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the form of automation and algorithms has had profound impacts in other areas of society such as transportation, hospitality, medicine, media and social connectivity. The timing will be right in 2022 for health and wellness programming that supports employees on their journey to improved health and higher engagement while leveraging improved approaches to data analytics.

“Understanding these trends can help organizations better plan for 2022 and beyond and help best support their people to be engaged and thrive in a positive culture,” the report concluded.