How Workhuman Live Walks the Talk in Health and Benefits Leadership Conferences

Let’s be honest – most conferences don’t exactly scream wellbeing. Especially health and benefits leadership conferences. Stiff chairs, boring exhibitors, stuffy rooms, endless PowerPoints, and networking events that feel like speed dating can leave you more drained than when you arrived. But Workhuman Live? It’s a different story.

When we set out to build Workhuman Live, we wanted to create something truly transformative – a space that embodies the very principles HR leaders champion every day: wellbeing, connection, and purpose. Every detail – from immersive sessions to great refreshments to reflective spaces – is thoughtfully designed to nourish the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others. We built this event as a holistic experience where HR professionals don’t just attend; they refuel, reconnect, and leave with the energy to inspire meaningful change.

Along the way, we’ve noticed a lot of other conferences getting a lot better – incorporating some of the experiential ideas we have embraced. We feel pretty good about that, but it also inspires us to constantly be raising the bar on how we can walk the talk on a more human experience for the human resource executive and everyone else, right at our HR and leadership conference.

This is our tenth year of Workhuman Live, and we hope it’s clear by now this is no ordinary HR event. It’s become an experience and a rite of passage for HR practitioners. It’s an annual call to refill our energy, reimagine leadership, refuel our minds and bodies, and elevate the workplace into a more human-centered space. 

And if you’re curious about what’s ahead in 2025, we’ll get to that soon. But first – why is it so important for HR departments to walk the talk in health benefits conferences?

Why health and benefits matter for HR leaders

Let’s set the stage: In today’s ultra-competitive labor market, health and benefits are no longer “perks” – they’re strategic imperatives. Employees are demanding more from their workplaces, from comprehensive wellbeing programs to flexible policies that support work-life balance.

And yet, here’s the paradox: while HR and Compensation & Benefits leaders pour their energy into crafting policies that improve everyone else’s wellbeing, they often neglect their own. It’s not uncommon for HR professionals to prioritize organizational needs over their personal health, leaving themselves overworked, under-rested, and, frankly, running on empty. Sound familiar?

Balancing all these competing priorities – employee wellbeing and organizational goals – has never been more challenging. But when health and benefits leadership is done right, the impact speaks for itself: employees thrive, culture improves, and organizations see measurable returns.

Health and benefits leadership as a strategic imperative

Wellbeing is what helps you avoid burnout – but it’s a critical driver of ROI and organizational success. Research consistently shows that workplaces with strong appreciation, wellbeing and wellness programs as part of their employee benefits see higher employee engagement, lower turnover, and greater resilience during times of change. These are changing times, and they require that we build new benefits strategies.

For HR leaders, the question is simple: Are your wellness and benefits strategies designed to meet the moment? Forward-thinking organizations are leveraging health and benefits leadership programs that do more than tick boxes. They’re investing in initiatives that address the whole person – physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

The result? Healthier employees who bring their best selves to work, contributing to a stronger, more sustainable workplace culture.

The emotional toll on HR and benefits professionals

HR professionals are no strangers to caring for others. You design policies, hold space for tough conversations, and build workplaces where people feel valued. But constantly putting others first can come at a cost. The emotional toll of this work – especially over the last few years – has left many HR leaders feeling drained, disconnected, and in need of a reset.

That’s where Workhuman Live comes in. As we love to say, it’s so much more than a conference – it’s a space to refuel and reconnect with each other and with your own purpose. It’s important to us to create an environment where participants will be able to step back, breathe, and rediscover their own sense of purpose. It’s a great place for health and benefits leadership professionals.

Because let’s face it: you can’t pour from an empty cup. When you improve employee experience, you make a difference in the overall wellbeing of your own team, and that all begins at Workhuman Live.

Workhuman Live: A holistic experience for HR and benefits leaders

So, what makes Workhuman Live different? To start with, the experience is not simply booths, sessions, and speakers. Our event is about creating an environment that supports the whole person. So, don’t expect your typical “walk the floor” or “sit and listen” conference or benefits expo. It’s a transformative gathering that brings people together and blends human connection, wellness, and inspiration into every moment.

Our philosophy of health and connection

At the heart of Workhuman Live is the belief that wellbeing goes beyond physical health – it’s about nurturing the mind, body, and soul. Core values like Courage, Kindness, Connection, and Awareness set the tone for an uplifting atmosphere where attendees feel seen, supported, and inspired, and help you to imagine new benefits strategies to make a difference back home.

Recognizing the greatness of attendees

This is the nation’s top gathering of leaders and HR teams. Because we have so many amazing attendees and because appreciation fuels connection, we like to bring recognition to life at our dedicated annual Gratitude Bar. It’s a space where attendees can pause, reflect, and share words of gratitude with colleagues and new friends. It’s a simple but powerful reminder of the impact recognition has on our wellbeing.

How Workhuman Live set the standard for health and wellness at benefits leadership conferences

Workhuman Live is constantly raising the bar on what a leading health, HR, benefits, workforce design, and management conference looks like. By centering wellbeing and innovation in HR practices, the conference has influenced the way health and benefits leadership events – and all events – are designed across the industry. It’s no coincidence that wellness-focused programming, mindfulness sessions, and inclusive spaces are becoming standard at events like the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo and HR Transform. Workhuman Live set the bar high – and others are starting to catch up.

Health and wellbeing

Workhuman Live has always made wellbeing a priority, not just as a theme in programming but as a lived experience. Whether it’s moments for reflection, sessions on resilience, or tools for fostering balance, every touchpoint at the conference supports HR professionals in leading healthier, more mindful workplaces – and healthier lives themselves.

Designing spaces holistically, with wellbeing in mind

You can feel it the moment you walk into Workhuman Central, the always-vibrant hub of our conference. Thoughtfully designed spaces invite attendees to pause, breathe, and connect. Immersive exhibits, networking lounges, and gratitude areas provide opportunities to relax, reflect, and build meaningful relationships. Forget tired feet on a conference floor or jostling for a free bench in the hallway – this is an environment purpose-built for networking, relaxing, and personal and professional growth.

Networking reimagined for connection and belonging

Networking doesn’t have to feel transactional or awkward. At Workhuman Live, we’ve reimagined these interactions to be inclusive, intentional, and – dare we say – fun. Initiatives like the Solo Social and Newcomers Tour help attendees feel welcome, offering easy ways to connect with others, share experiences, and build community. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about who you meet but how you connect.

Integration of local culture and wellness

Every Workhuman Live location brings something unique, and we embrace it fully. From showcasing local artists and performers to incorporating regional wellness traditions, the conference celebrates the host community and enriches the attendee experience. It’s these thoughtful touches that make Workhuman Live both grounding and unforgettable.

2024, 2023, 2022… 2015. Reflecting on a decade of transformation in HR conferences

Since its inception in 2015, Workhuman Live has played a pivotal role in redefining what an HR conference can be. This past decade – what we call The Human Decade – has seen a shift toward prioritizing people, purpose, and connection in the workplace. Workhuman Live has tried to help lead the way, pushing boundaries and sparking conversations that elevate recognition, performance, and wellbeing strategies for organizations worldwide.

Beyond booths: How Workhuman Live has elevated the industry

Our conference doesn’t focus on flashy expo halls or product pitches – it’s about exploring the topics that actually matter to HR teams: innovative benefits strategies, employee wellness, and human-centered policies. By reimagining recognition, performance management, and workplace culture, the event has inspired HR professionals to raise their voices, challenge the status quo, and lead with impact.

Influencing the future of work with strategies, policies, and benefits that meet the moment

In a time marked by rapid technological advancement, Workhuman Live prepares HR practitioners for the future of work by helping them balance innovation with humanity. The focus? Creating strategies and policies that meet employees where they are – supporting resilience, wellbeing, and purpose in an evolving workplace.

Workhuman Live 2025 in the Rockies: Elevating the conversation – by a mile

Looking ahead, we’re excited to bring Workhuman Live to the stunning Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Denver for 2025. This year’s theme, Elevate, is a call to rise – personally and professionally – as leaders in meeting employee needs. It will be the top gathering of the savviest HR thinkers and speakers in the industry, and a chance to gain insight and actionable guidance on how to build a better workforce and provide a stronger employee value proposition – tools essential to attracting and retaining the best workers.

What to expect at Workhuman Live 2025

With our thoughtfully designed content track choices: Rise Up, Build Up, Lift Up, and Step Up, attendees can expect a balanced experience that combines strategic summits with reflective retreats. From groundbreaking insights on recognition and wellbeing to opportunities to recharge through wellness experiences, Workhuman Live 2025 will inspire health and benefits leadership and all HR and leaders to lead with renewed clarity and purpose.

A place to refuel and rise up

Workhuman Live brings together the topics that matter most to today’s HR and health and benefits leadership – recognition, wellness, and strategies that drive human-centered workplaces. But it also delivers something deeper: a space for leaders to step back, reconnect with their purpose, and find clarity in the work they do.

Infusing winning health, wellness, and connection into every detail

Every detail of Workhuman Live is thoughtfully designed to prioritize wellbeing. Attendees can recharge with energizing yoga and meditation sessions, enjoy nourishing meal options, and take advantage of quiet spaces for reflection. Even networking gets a refresh – no awkward moments, just meaningful connections through initiatives like our integrated appointments tool in the events app, social events and tours, and experimental activations in Workhuman Central. 

Learning and growth through connection

True learning happens when we connect with others. At Workhuman Live, storytelling, purposeful workshops, and engaging discussions create opportunities to share experiences, spark new ideas, and leave with actionable strategies. Attendees find more than insights – they discover a community of peers who share their challenges and aspirations.

See you in May at the conference for the savviest HR and benefits professionals

Workhuman Live is more than just another stop on the health and benefits leadership conference calendar. It’s a place where HR and benefits professionals can step away from daily demands to reflect, recharge, and regain the energy needed to lead with vision and impact.

Health and benefits leadership remains essential to workplace success, but leaders need spaces to care for themselves, too. Workhuman Live provides that environment – a place to fill your cup, find new clarity, and reconnect with the purpose that brought you here.

Join us in Colorado for Workhuman Live 2025 to experience it for yourself. Together, we’ll elevate the conversation around HR, benefits, and the future of work – one human connection at a time.

About Darcy Jacobsen

Darcy is a passionate storyteller and champion of workforce transformation, human connection, and recognition-driven culture. As an author on the Workhuman Live Blog, she loves to connect deep research insights with modern workplace dynamics to uncover what really drives engagement, belonging, and happiness at work. With a background in communications and a master’s in medieval history, she brings a unique perspective to her writing, taking deep dives into all topics around organizational psychology and the science of gratitude.