When it comes to deciding on a job, Gen Z isn’t just thinking about paid time off, return-to-office mandates or salary negotiations. They’re checking whether a company will cover GLP-1 weight-loss drugs—and they’re not alone.
It’s a benefit that could actually push young employees from one job offer to another. A new ZipHealth survey of over 1,000 workers found that nearly half (47%) of Gen Z said GLP-1 coverage would affect their choices between two similar jobs—that’s compared to 35% of millennials and 36% of Gen X.
In more extreme cases, another 7% of workers said they would be open to taking a pay cut if it meant working somewhere that offers GLP-1 coverage. That number rose to 9% among Gen Z. Overall, the majority (54%) of workers said they would give up at least one workplace perk for employer-covered GLP-1 treatment. One in eight would give up a full week of PTO.
GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic have completely changed the game when it comes to weight-loss or diabetes management, moving from celebrity circles to the mainstream. Originally developed for diabetes, the prescription medications have evolved in popularity in recent years. Some pharmaceutical companies—like Indianapolis-based drugmaker Eli Lilly—have recently introduced platforms that let companies offer their employees more affordable access to weight-loss drugs.
Last November, a KFF poll found that one in eight adults said they were taking a GLP-1 drug for weight loss, diabetes or other conditions. In December, the Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy in pill-form—making the drug more accessible.
Now, the weight-loss drug is even permeating the workplace: The majority of workers surveyed by ZipHealth said GLP-1 medication coverage should be a standard benefit. According to a 2025 survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, 55% of employers provided coverage of GLP-1 drugs, but only for the treatment of diabetes.
In the past, Gen Z has approached weight-loss drugs with more skepticism compared to millennials or Gen X. A Levity survey from last September found that Gen Z favored more regulation around GLP-1 than millennials, and the majority (58%) of them didn’t think the drug would be in their treatment plan in the coming year. For a chronically-online generation dealing with burnout and a turbulent job market, fitness and wellness have become full-on lifestyles that social media has pushed young adults to embrace. For employers, that might mean free snacks or healthy catered lunches might not cut it anymore.
Even as workers prioritize access to GLP-1’s in the workplace, it’s not something they’re quite ready to talk about with HR—especially for Gen Z. Among the demographic, the majority (58%) said they wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing their weight management goals with HR, while 53% were uncomfortable disclosing GLP-1 use, according to the ZipHealth data.
As GLP-1 usage becomes less stigmatized and influences career decisions, there’s still a missing facet of workplace cultures that encourages discussing health and wellness benefits—which a a growing number of young employees really want.