While innovation is often perceived as the driving force that keeps tech companies ahead of the curve, it’s essential not to lose sight of what truly powers your company’s success—your team.
Your employees’ wellbeing is directly linked to your organization’s health. If your team is burning out, feeling anxious about job security in an unstable marketplace or lacking the resources to manage their wellbeing, you’ll see the ripple effects: lower productivity, lack of innovation, increased absenteeism and higher turnover.
So, how can you support your tech employees while remaining competitive during this difficult time? It may be simpler than you think. Start by understanding the unique wellbeing challenges your tech employees face and tailor your benefits package to address them.
Understanding the unique wellbeing challenges in tech
Understanding the challenges tech employees face—and what causes them to leave—is the first step in making a real impact on their wellbeing. After all, you can’t improve the employee experience without first identifying what undermines it.
A few of the most common challenges, include:
- Fast-paced environment and pressure to stay competitive
One of the main challenges tech workers face is the fast-paced environment and pressure to stay competitive. Long hours, tight deadlines and complex project demands are the norm. Beyond their daily workload, they also need to find time to keep up with rapid technological advancements. This constant balancing act means employee wellbeing often takes a backseat, leading to health issues, such as:
• Digital eye strain from prolonged screen time
• Back pain, heart disease, musculoskeletal issues and obesity as a result of regularly sitting for long periods of time
• Burnout from the continuous pressure to perform, reducing job satisfaction and leaving employees emotionally exhausted
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from repetitive keyboard and poor ergonomic support
• Increased sick days as a result of long-term stress and burnout - Lack of work-life balance and sense of community
A study by Statista shares that, 67% of tech employees primarily work remotely. While this flexibility is appealing, it can take a toll on mental health over time. The blurred boundaries between work and personal life often lead to longer hours, higher stress and guilt over taking breaks. Remote work can also lead to feelings of isolation, making it harder for employees to stay connected and engaged.
Top reasons employees leave
Additionally, it can be helpful to understand why employees decide to leave their current employer. In a recent report by Express Employment Professionals, employers shared the top reasons employees resigned in 2024:
- Better pay/benefits elsewhere (37%)
- Employees resigning (31%)
- Increased workplace demands (25%)
- The competitive job market (24%)
- Employees feeling overworked (22%)
The importance of supporting employee wellbeing
Gallup research shows that when employees feel their employer genuinely cares about their wellbeing, it pays off in multiple ways. Compared to those who don’t feel supported, these employees are:
- 3x more likely to be engaged at work
- 69% less likely to be job hunting
- 71% less likely to experience burnout
- 5x more likely to strongly advocate for their company
- 5x more likely to trust leadership
A proactive approach to wellbeing doesn’t just help with retention. It also leads to:
- Fewer sick days and absences
- Higher productivity
- Stronger team engagement
- Greater employee loyalty
- Enhanced employer reputation
If you’re worried about the cost of investing in employee wellbeing, it’s important to note the expenses associated with turnover. The average cost of employee turnover is $30,764 per person, according to Benefits Canada. This is just one of many costs you can avoid by creating a culture where employees feel valued and set up for success.
While it’s understandable to be concerned about the initial investment in workplace wellbeing, the long-term benefits of supporting your team far outweigh the costs – a more engaged, resilient and productive workforce.
How tech employers can support employee wellbeing through their benefit plan
Once you have a clearer understanding of the challenges your tech employees face, it’s time to take action, starting with evaluating your current benefit plan. Your benefit plan can effectively address most of these common challenges.
Some key initiatives to consider:
- Virtual care: Virtual care is available 24/7 across Canada and offers cost-effective digital support for both physical and mental health. This option makes it easier for employees to manage their health, which can lead to reduced absenteeism and improved work-life balance in your organization.
- Wellness and Health Spending Accounts: Wellness Spending Accounts (WSAs) provide employees with funding for wellness-related expenses, such as fitness equipment and professional development while Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) help cover medical expenses that may not be fully covered in your plan, like prescription drugs, dental and vision care.
These accounts offer additional choice and flexibility to support diverse needs. Employees can use their credits to invest in ergonomic work-from-home equipment, massages or fitness classes.
- Mental health resources: Providing access to counselling and support programs can help employees in high-stress roles prevent or manage burnout. You can enhance employee mental health coverage by offering an Employee Family Assistance Program or Health Spending Account, along with increasing the psychology maximum.
- Vision coverage: With the amount of time tech employees spend in front of a screen, comprehensive eye coverage is essential. Ensure your plan includes eye exams and corrective lenses to help combat digital eye strain.
- Health coverage: Well-rounded health insurance options are vital for preventive care, helping to reduce common tech-related injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic back problems. Employees can take advantage of their benefit plans to prevent and address these issues through physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage services.
- Disability coverage: Providing disability coverage supports employees who may experience long-term health challenges, demonstrating your commitment to their wellbeing.
- Inclusive support: Depending on the plan employers choose, the WSA could include a new category that provides coverage to address the diverse needs of employees and their families, including coverage for gender affirming care, fertility and family planning and cultural support.
- Prescription drug coverage: Provide coverage for prescription drugs so employees can afford the medication they need to maintain their overall wellbeing.
- Dental coverage: Ongoing stress can lead to dental issues, such as teeth grinding and gum disease. By offering dental coverage, you can make it easy for your team to get regular checkups and preventive care.
We also recommend involving your employees in developing your benefit plan to ensure their needs are met. Discover effective ways to engage your team in the process.
Additional ways employers can support employee wellbeing
Evaluate your company perks
You can also review your company perks for opportunities to promote work-life balance, flexibility, professional development and greater job satisfaction, including:
- Flexible hours: Implement flexible work schedules that allow employees to choose their start and end times while maintaining core hours when everyone is available (example 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.). This approach helps employees balance their personal and professional commitments.
- Tuition reimbursement: Offer financial assistance for education and the necessary time for employees to pursue higher learning.
- Encourage employees to take time off: Encourage employees to take their breaks and vacation days. Additionally, you can reward those who work overtime to meet urgent deadlines with paid time off or overtime pay.
- Professional development training: Invest in training programs that enhance your employees’ skills in the tech sector. Offer them opportunities to attend courses or workshops during work hours, allowing them to focus fully on their training.
Improve workplace ergonomics
To combat common tech industry health challenges, employers can provide ergonomic workstations and promote preventative best practices.
Here are a few examples:
Workstations:
- Adjustable chairs and sit-stand desks: Provide ergonomic chairs that support good posture and desks that can be adjusted for sitting or standing to reduce discomfort during long work hours.
- Blue light filters: Install blue light filters on screens to help prevent eye strain for employees who spend extended periods in front of their computers.
- Keyboards and mice: Invest in keyboards and mice that promote comfort and reduce wrist strain. Look for keyboards that have a slight curve to support natural hand placement and mice that promote a neutral wrist position.
Practices:
- Typing techniques: Encourage proper typing practices to minimize repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Screen breaks: Promote the 20-20-20 rule to avoid digital eye strain: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away.
Consider your team size and structure
Lastly, assess your team size and structure. Is there a way you can hire additional team members or temporary contractors to ease the burden on your current staff?
While hiring may appear to be an added expense, it’s important to recognize that the cost of overworked employees can be significantly higher, affecting morale, customer service, turnover and productivity.
By expanding your team, you can evenly distribute the workload, ensuring that everyone has the support they need to succeed.
Retain and attract top tech talent by supporting their wellbeing
Prioritizing employee wellbeing is not just a nice thing to do—it’s essential for retaining top talent and creating a resilient workforce.
By investing in a thoughtfully designed compensation plan and creating a supportive work environment, you’ll enhance job satisfaction, become a preferred employer and foster a loyal workforce that’s driven to achieve organizational goals.
Take proactive steps today to create a workplace where your team can thrive.
Ready to take the next step in supporting your tech employees?
Now’s the time to optimize your benefit plan to meet the unique demands of the tech industry and promote a healthier, more balanced workplace.
We can help.
We’ll work together to build a benefit plan that aligns with your employee needs, promotes employee wellbeing and improves job satisfaction. Get in touch with an Alberta Blue Cross® representative or visit our Group Benefits page to get started.
