Corporate leaders are desperate to make sure the costly benefits workers increasingly expect actually generate positive outcomes like higher productivity and engagement. That squeeze is particularly evident with well-being support, where there’s a high discrepancy between what workers want and what companies are offering. 

Earlier this year, Marsh McLennan, a professional services firm and parent company of HR consulting firm Mercer, rolled out “@YourBest,” an app that provides individually tailored well-being recommendations and services to employees. As of November, more than 20% of Marsh McLennan’s 85,000 employees have used the platform. For comparison, utilization rates for employee assistance programs typically trend at below 10%.

After signing up for the app, employees complete an assessment that churns out customized recommendations to enhance well-being. The process is akin to that of styling services like Stitch Fix, which recommends personalized clothing and accessory products based on a user’s preferences.

“Embracing that human and digital health delivery, like promoting virtual care benefits, is something that we found grew during the pandemic,” says Carmen Fernandez, Marsh McLennan’s chief people officer. “More and more colleagues want to have the same experience that they have outside of work, inside work.”

Recommendations include advice on jumpstarting financial savings, hydration tips, and gratitude how-tos. The platform also encourages users to take advantage of benefits offerings.

“It is meant to be their one-stop shop for all well-being questions, issues, and needs that cross mental, financial, and social [topics],” says Fernandez.

There’s also a gamification aspect to help engage employees. Users can earn points on the platform, for example, by participating in different activities, which they can use to unlock additional activities and partake in challenges with colleagues.

On the employer end, Fernandez says the platform gives her team insight into the well-being support employees most crave, such as building resilience and navigating through uncertain times. “We have the ability to understand, through the well-being assessment, what the needs are of our colleagues. And then we pulse that regularly to understand how those are evolving.”

Paige McGlauflin
paige.mcglauflin@fortune.com
@paidion

Reporter's Notebook

The most compelling data, quotes, and insights from the field.

Pets could soon make a return to the office, according to new research.

Allowing pets in the office can boost employee well-being, collaboration, and bonding among colleagues, according to a report in the Journal of Management. But it's not without downsides, including a small subset of employees who may object due to cultural or religious reasons, phobias or bad experiences, and hygienic or allergy concerns.

Leaders who consider allowing pets in the office should set clear policies, such as when and where animals are welcome, and the owner's responsibilities.

Around the Table

A round-up of the most important HR headlines.

- Some companies are renting out their workspaces WeWork-style to cater to remote employees and save money on long office leases. Financial Times

- Job satisfaction has dropped to its lowest since 2020 due to inflation, a slowing job market, and the pitfalls of changing office requirements. Wall Street Journal

- The St. Louis Federal Reserve’s Institute for Economic Equity sees pandemic-related employment gains staying the course for the foreseeable future. Opportunities for minority groups, however, are vulnerable to reversion. Reuters

- More employees want pension plans instead of 401(k)-style retirement plans. New York Times

Watercooler

Everything you need to know from Fortune.

Pay to stay. A slight majority of hybrid workers say higher compensation for in-person work would motivate them to come to the office more often. About 4% of HR representatives whose companies are offering new RTO policies say they include this type of incentive. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips, AP

Clearing the table. AI will increase creativity by automating some 70% of employees’ administrative tasks, the global leader of AI firm QuantumBlack told Fortune CEO Alan Murray. —Chloe Taylor

Divide brews. Gen Z workers respond better to return-to-office mandates than millennials because they see the networking and training benefits, according to new research from Stanford professor and remote work expert Nick Bloom. —Steve Mollman