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GLP-1s used to be a treatment of the Hollywood class to look good on camera and lose weight fast. But the medications are getting cheaper and more desired by mainstream America such that many are demanding it as part of their benefits packages.

A ZipHealth survey shows that employers might want to take a closer look into the request for the following reasons:

  • 51% of workers say GLP-1 medication coverage should be a standard benefit.
  • 54% of workers would give up at least one workplace perk for employer-covered GLP-1 treatment, and 1 in 8 (13%) would sacrifice a full week of PTO.
  • 32% of workers have kept a weight-loss effort private at work, and only 1 in 10 would disclose being on GLP-1 medication to a new employer.
  • 31% of workers say an employer-covered GLP-1 treatment would boost their confidence at work and increase their company loyalty.

Younger workers appeared especially influenced by access to these treatments when making career decisions. Nearly half of Gen Z (47%) said GLP-1 coverage would sway their choice between two similar jobs, compared to 35% of millennials and 36% of Gen X.

In some cases, this went even further. Seven percent of workers had skipped applying for a job because they assumed weight loss treatment wouldn't be covered. Another 7% was willing to take a pay cut to work somewhere that offers GLP-1 coverage, and this rose to 9% among Gen Z.

Seventeen percent of workers said they had felt judged, stigmatized, or excluded at work because of their weight or weight loss efforts. Another 17% said they would worry that using GLP-1 medications could change how their manager or coworkers perceive their discipline or professionalism.

Privacy is also a factor when considering these benefits. Nearly one-third (32%) had kept their weight loss efforts to themselves at work, and only 1 in 10 said they would disclose their GLP-1 use to a new employer. Workplace culture may play a role here: 42% of workers said their workplace made it easier to talk about mental health than weight-related health.

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