Workspan Daily News Bytes for May 29, 2026

That PTO Benefit Has Real Benefits … if Workers Use It

Workspan Daily has reported over the past few years that workers in the U.S. and around the world are not taking all of their earned and allotted paid time off (PTO).

Well, HR, you need to entice your organization’s workers to take a vacation.

Research published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health confirmed taking vacations significantly improves individuals’ physical and mental well-being by:

Reducing stress hormones;
Lowering heart disease risks; and,
Boosting cognitive clarity.

However, to maximize these benefits and prevent burnout, the study (titled, “Maximizing Recovery: The Superiority of Frequent Vacations for Well-Being and Performance”) advised workers to take frequent, shorter getaways (perhaps two or three days every two months) rather than a single annual trip.

According to report authors Selvaraj Giridharan and Bhuvana Pandiyan, “Sustained work effort depletes physiological and psychological resources, manifesting as elevated cortisol levels, cognitive fatigue and emotional exhaustion. Without periodic recovery, this strain accumulates, increasing the risk of burnout, reduced productivity and adverse health outcomes. Vacations, as structured periods of respite, interrupt this cycle, enabling resource restoration and serving as a critical intervention for sustaining employee well-being.”

Want to Lure Job Candidates? Mention Your Core Values

Eighty-one percent of nearly 1,000 U.S. workers surveyed by employment platform iHire said they are more likely to apply for a job if an employer explicitly mentions its core values in the posting.

Organizational core values are the fundamental beliefs and guiding principles that shape how a business operates, makes decisions, and treats its employees, customers and partners. They typically define the corporate culture and priorities, ensuring everyone aligns around a shared mission. Strong core values can positively influence hiring, leadership and long-term business strategy.

According to the iHire study, which was released May 19, the core values workers most sought in a potential employer are:

Integrity
Respect
Teamwork
Growth
Honesty

Research Calls Out Rising Debt as ‘Pervasive Health Issue’

Financial wellness is weighing on many Americans, according to a research report released May 14 by finance company Achieve and financial publication Money.com.

The report, based on a poll of 2,000 U.S. adults, showed:

33% of respondents increased their unsecured debt over the past 12 months.
34% said they are unable to make the full monthly payment on all their debts.
28% said their debt is unmanageable.
Many stated they had trouble sleeping (49%), felt anxious or on edge (50%), or felt overwhelmed (44%) because of their financial situation.
20% said they use alcohol or other substances to cope with financial stress, and 14% have delayed or skipped medical treatment because of money.
53% said their household’s finances “need a strategic reset.” The share spikes to 80% for those who feel they have too much debt.

“The data shows that for many everyday people, debt has moved beyond a financial hurdle and is now a pervasive health issue,” said Achieve co-founder/co-CEO Brad Stroh. “When 80% of those with unmanageable debt are unable to meet their monthly obligations, it is clear that the traditional path is no longer working.”

Americans Increasingly Rely on Digital Health Apps, Devices

Digital health tools have become mainstream among American adults, according to research published May 14 by Reach3 Insights. The consulting firm’s Digital Health Trends report found 71% of surveyed Americans use health-related apps and 64% use health-related devices, while consumer interest continues shifting toward more passive, always-on forms of health monitoring.

Additional findings from the study of more than 1,000 survey respondents included:

More than 60% are using one or more health technologies to track their biometrics, sleep, activity and/or stress.
88% want to maintain or increase their current health technology usage over the next five to 10 years.
Usage of holistic wearables has grown (20% to 24%), while pure fitness-oriented wearable use declined (28% to 22%), indicating a broader interest in comprehensive wellness over basic physical activity.
Interest in smart rings (34% to 39%) and smart glasses (16% to 21%) surged between 2024 and 2026.
Among Generation Z, fertility and women’s health apps are the second most-used category (38%), surpassing sleep monitoring and mental health tools.
Interest in some digital health services that surged during the pandemic is cooling, with telehealth interest declining from 48% in 2024 to 41% in 2026. Online pharmacy and DNA testing services also saw year-over-year declines.

“Digital health tools are becoming deeply integrated into how people manage their daily lives,” said Reach3 Insights vice president Christine Nguyen. “Consumers increasingly describe these tools as part of their routines, motivation and peace of mind.”

Retirees Wish They Had Financial Planned More in Work Years

According to the 2026 U.S. Retirement Survey from Schroder Investment Management North America, 49% of retirees report their expenses in retirement are higher than they expected, and more than half (58%) don’t know how long their savings will last.

The report, released May 19, stated the top five concerns weighing on retired Americans include:

Inflation lessening the value of assets (90% of respondents said they are at least slightly concerned)
Higher than expected healthcare costs (87%)
A major market downturn significantly reducing assets (81%)
Not knowing how to best take retirement income and/or draw down assets (69%)
Outliving assets (68%)

On average, retirees reported spending 16% of their total monthly income on healthcare costs (e.g., insurance premiums, prescription costs, out-of-pocket expenses), and the majority (58%) said they expected Medicare to cover a greater share of their healthcare costs.

Notably, 64% of retirees wish they had done more planning prior to retirement.

“Retirees are fighting the affordability crisis with a fixed pool of assets and no second chances,” said Deb Boyden, Schroders’ head of U.S. defined contribution. “What often gets overlooked is that investing for retirement and investing in retirement are fundamentally different challenges. ... With lifespans extending well into the 80s and beyond, your savings may need to work for you for three or four decades.”

Figures and Facts of the Week

37,824: The annual healthcare cost, in U.S. dollars, for a family of four covered under a typical employer-sponsored plan, according to the 2026 Milliman Medical Index, released May 20. The financial services and employee benefits advisory firm said the 7.9% year-over-year increase is the most since the COVID-19 pandemic.
76: The percent of surveyed workers who felt motivated at work, according to pulse data released May 22 by HeartCount, an employee engagement platform. Just 5% of respondents said they were not motivated at work.
41: The percentage of Americans who work from home “three to four times per week,” according to a May 14 Gallup report. The data was pulled from the research firm’s Remote Life Study and a research paper published in the Review of Income and Wealth.
6: The percentage of annual job growth for HR specialists through 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency stated the growth rate is higher than the average for all occupations.
2: The number of European states that are on track to meet the European Union Pay Transparency Directive’s June 6 deadline, according to the latest Transposition Monitor from compensation software company Trusaic. Italy and Slovakia are the on-track nations.

Editor’s Note: Additional Content

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