Successful health incentive structures that help reduce workplace burnout

You might be surprised to learn that nearly 77% of workers feel burned out. Another 57% say work-related stress and burnout have a significant impact on their lives outside of work. Burnout doesn’t only hurt the employee, though. It spreads through workplaces and can lead to a lack of motivation, mental health concerns, chronic exhaustion, and declining productivity. 

Read on to learn about the most successful health incentive structures for reducing workplace burnout.

Types of health incentive programs that reduce burnout

Workplace wellness incentives can support and improve employee well-being and work-life balance. Your incentive and wellness programs are tools that help prevent burnout and give people the resources and interventions they need to recover.

Mental health support programs

Offering employees access to mental healthcare is one of the most effective ways to prevent employee burnout and improve employee mental health. Chronic job stress can lead to anxiety, disengagement, and emotional exhaustion. Providing confidential and convenient access to workplace therapy can make all the difference. Mental health programs remove common obstacles like stigma, cost, or time that prevent many people from getting help. 

Studies show that offering mental health support at work can reduce absenteeism and presenteeism rates. They can also improve morale and job satisfaction.

“Providing access to an easy-to-access solution like Talkspace can help employees who maybe would not engage in traditional therapy. The ability to send a message to a therapist may feel less intimidating to an employee who has never engaged with a therapist. It may also be conducive to a busy lifestyle and one where in attending in-person therapy may be more of a barrier.”
_{- Laura Magnuson, MA, MS, LAMFT, VP of Clinical Engagement}

Physical health incentives

Supporting employees’ physical health strengthens resilience. Consider offering wellness incentives, such as gym memberships, fitness trackers, or on-site wellness activities. These encourage employees to prioritize self-care, allowing them to achieve a better work-life balance.

Regular exercise is an effective way to manage stress and maintain focus, even on high-pressure days. Working out has been proven to reduce depression and anxiety. You can also offer nutritional support by keeping healthy snacks in the break room or providing subsidies for wellness classes. Encouraging healthy habits helps employees stay energized, focused, and balanced.

Flexible work arrangements

Flexible schedules are among the most valuable incentives you can offer your workforce as an employer. Giving employees autonomy over their schedules enables them to balance their professional responsibilities with their personal needs. It ensures they have the time they need to recharge and manage ongoing stress.

Flexible hours, working from home, and shortened workweeks are all easy ways you can help employees recover from burnout. These perks cause enhanced job satisfaction and engagement, which benefits both the employee's mental health and the organization.

“When employees have a rigid schedule in place and are also juggling family lives, there may be more anxiety present than those employees who have a more flexible schedule. For example, if an employee has the flexibility to take a child to a doctor appointment and can make up their work later in the day, this may reduce the employee’s stress and anxiety they may feel if needing to take time off and use vacation for these types of appointments.”
_{- Laura Magnuson, MA, MS, LAMFT, VP of Clinical Engagement}

Recognition & reward systems

Showing appreciation can motivate employees. Recognizing effort and rewarding successes can spark a positive shift in your workplace environment. You might offer incentives like cash bonuses, employee recognition, or one-on-one awards (or a combination of these strategies). Participation in recognition programs is an effective way for you to encourage people to participate in your wellness efforts.

Designing a successful incentive structure

The key to any effective wellness incentive is tailoring it to individual needs. That means listening to employees before introducing new wellness programs. Gather valuable feedback through questionnaires, panels, surveys, or focus groups to learn about employees’ biggest stressors and identify what prevents them from getting help. This helps you match incentives with actual needs. Avoid one-size-fits-all programs that typically don’t result in much success.

Inclusivity is the cornerstone of an effective incentive program. You want to support people across all income levels, job roles, and life circumstances. Make a conscious effort to offer accessible resources and rewards that are meaningful to everyone. Monitoring participation levels and outcomes is crucial for the long-term success of your incentive programs. 

To assess ROI on wellness programs and learn what’s working, use the following:

• Baseline metrics
• Periodic engagement metrics
• Health risk assessments
• Direct feedback
• Healthcare utilization and claims data
• Absenteeism rates
• Injury rates
• Turnover and retention data
• Morale and job satisfaction surveys

Case studies of effective programs

Many organizations have already demonstrated the power of effective wellness incentives. Below are some tangible examples of employee wellness programs implemented by well-known companies. You can learn from them and adapt their strategies to fit your organization’s needs. 

Take a look at these examples of wellness ideas for employees and how these companies are using successful health incentive structures to reduce workplace burnout.

Google’s wellness program

Google’s approach to culture and well-being has helped it attract top talent and minimize turnover. They built a workplace environment that supports well-being and drives innovation.

Google’s initiatives for well-being include:

• On-site healthcare services
• Gourmet food and free healthy meals
• Access to on-site gyms and other fitness facilities
• Nap pods
• Relaxation areas
• Openly inclusive culture

Google’s efforts have offered impressive and measurable results, including:

• Recognition as a top employer
• High retention rates
• Boosted productivity 
• Increased innovation
• A strong reputation as an employee-centric company

Salesforce’s holistic approach

Salesforce adopts a holistic approach to wellness, encompassing the mental, emotional, and cultural aspects of employee well-being. The company is recognized for its dedication to its workers and has achieved significant success and improvement in its incentive programs. 

Salesforce uses the following incentives to shape the employee experience in positive ways:

• Solicits employee feedback
• Offers mental health services
• Emphasizes work-life balance for employees
• Ensures accessibility and inclusivity in programs
• Addresses cultural barriers to wellness
• Prioritizes pay equity
• Offers trauma survivor support
• Addresses gender issues
• Offers opportunities for growth
• Provides leadership development
• Focuses on organizational culture

Salesforce has seen a payoff from its investment in mental well-being. They’re recognized for:

• Frequent appearances on “best companies to work for” lists
• Named Fortune’s “Best Workplace in Technology” for eight years in a row
• Reduced rates of stress and burnout

Patagonia’s supportive culture

Patagonia is known for its culture prioritizing sustainability and activism. 

Patagonia prioritizes people over profits by offering:

• Flexible policies
• On-site childcare
• Activism support
• Open communication
• Transparency and employee autonomy
• DEI initiatives

Patagonia’s dedication to creating a culture where employees thrive results in benefits like:

• Improved employee well-being
• A workforce that feels valued and empowered
• High employee engagement
• Strong brand loyalty 

Even smaller organizations can adopt and implement scaled versions of incentives similar to those used by large companies. Simple steps, like incorporating flexible scheduling and offering mental health stipends, can effectively reduce turnover and improve loyalty and job satisfaction rates.

Talkspace mental health support across 6 unique industries

Talkspace’s mental health platform has proven successful across a range of industries, demonstrating how accessible care can make a measurable difference in employee well-being and performance. In a case study spanning six industries—business services; finance, insurance, and legal; healthcare and hospital systems; manufacturing and industrial; retail and consumer services; and tech and media—Talkspace reached nearly 700,000 employees with flexible, effective mental health care.

Within 12 weeks, employees across every sector reported significant improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression, the two most common mental health concerns in the workplace. The program’s impact was driven by easy access to care, a fast matching process, and multiple ways to connect with licensed providers—whether through live video sessions or text-based therapy that fits into busy schedules.

Measuring success

Implementing health incentive structures is just the first step. You also need to measure your program’s effectiveness to ensure you’re making a meaningful impact. Without data and follow-up, you risk your investments not yielding a return.

Begin by conducting surveys on topics like stress, burnout, and job satisfaction. Track program participation rates to gauge engagement and utilization. Utilize quantitative employee well-being metrics like absenteeism, productivity levels, and retention rates to assess effectiveness. 

Creating continuous feedback loops ensures programs will evolve as your workforce’s needs change. What worked six months ago may need to be adapted as challenges shift and employees grow. Taking steps to keep your wellness programs as effective as possible will maximize the value of your investment. Measuring ROI ensures that your efforts yield a return on investment. 

Measuring ROI with Talkspace

Successful health incentive structures that reduce workplace burnout​ enable you to create a culture that values employee well-being. Addressing mental, physical, and emotional health can effectively reduce burnout. Tailoring programs and ensuring accessibility will keep your efforts relevant and enable you to measure their impact. 

Talkspace offers employers viable solutions and a mental health ROI calculator, enabling you to implement effective wellness programs and quantify the benefits you’re considering. Request a demo today to learn how tailored mental health initiatives can transform your workplace culture and improve job performance.

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Sources:

1. “2023 Work in America Survey.” n.d. American Psychological Association (APA). https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-in-america/2023-workplace-health-well-being. Accessed October 9, 2025.
2. Wu, Ashley, Enid Chung Roemer, Karen B. Kent, David W. Ballard, and Ron Z. Goetzel. 2021. “Organizational Best Practices Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 63 (12): e925–31. doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000002407. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8631150/. Accessed October 9, 2025.
3. National Fund for Workforce Solutions. 2024. “Mental Health in the Workplace: Supporting Employee Well-Being | National Fund for Workforce Solutions.” National Fund for Workforce Solutions. April 2. https://nationalfund.org/mental-health-in-the-workplace-supporting-employee-well-being/. Accessed October 9, 2025.
4. Mahindru, Aditya, Pradeep Patil, and Varun Agrawal. 2023. “Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review.” Cureus, January. doi:10.7759/cureus.33475. Addressing burnout is crucial for employee retention, reducing absenteeism, and enhancing overall performance. There is some good news, though—health incentives and wellness programs can significantly decrease burnout and boost morale. . Accessed October 9, 2025.

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