As the world continues to shift post-pandemic, employee health and wellness should be top of mind for every company looking to maintain a happy and productive workforce. According to a study published by Deloitte, organizations that take on a “human first” approach will be more successful and adapt more easily to disruption and unprecedented challenges in the long run.
For many of us as individuals, wellness has become a major focus in the past year. In fact, in a survey of 7,000 consumers published by advertising agency Ogilvy, 77 percent of people said that wellness was very or extremely important to them, and 80 percent wanted to improve their wellness. Furthermore, 73 percent of respondents said that all brands needed a wellness strategy as part of their core mission. Incorporating wellness into your corporate brand can lead to lower turnover, lower absenteeism, higher productivity and higher customer satisfaction, as well as lower your healthcare costs as an organization.
If your organization hasn’t created an employee wellness program already (or is looking to revamp the one you currently have), it couldn’t come at a better time. Mental Health America conducts an annual Mind the Workplace Report, and in 2021, they found that nearly 83 percent of respondents felt emotionally drained from their work. The report also revealed that 71 percent of those respondents strongly agreed that their workplace stress affected their mental health, and nearly one in four employees experienced “reduced professional efficacy and cynicism toward coworkers and their jobs.”
These numbers alone demonstrate why employee wellness programs are more important now than ever. For those organizations looking to create programs that will benefit their team members, we’ve shared a few pointers for getting started.
Do your research.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has a handy guide for establishing corporate wellness programs, and that begins with asking the right questions. Take time to survey your employees, whether formally or informally, to get a pulse on the organization and what your team members are asking for. During this time, you can also take health risk assessments and look at health plan usage to get started.
Set up a Corporate Health Challenge for your team.
Corporate challenges are proven to reduce healthcare costs for companies, boost morale and improve overall performance. Through our Corporate Health Challenges portal, you can choose from 40+ wellness challenges that not only encourage collaboration, but also reward team members for participation. These challenges can be customized to fit your organization’s needs, and focus on a variety of goals, including stress management, physical activity, healthy eating and more.
Provide rewards and recognition.
Rewards play a major role in helping us change behaviors or adopt new habits. Programs like our Corporate Health Fairs provide incentives for those who participate, and add a level of friendly competition and camaraderie to each activity. However, recognition can be as simple as acknowledging that your team members are working hard and have done a great job. Find ways to let your employees know that they are seen, valued and heard, whether working remotely or in the office.
Focus on mental health.
According to the Mind the Workplace Report that was previously mentioned, 85 percent of respondents felt that their workplace stress affected their mental health, and nearly 3 in 5 employees felt that their employers did not provide a safe and welcoming environment for those with mental illness. To combat that, Mental Health America suggests that managers help employees adjust their workload as needed, and should encourage employees to take personal days to recharge. The study also recommends utilizing new employee orientations to share tips for stress management and to regularly educate staff members about the benefits available to them, such as an Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources.
Whether your organization remains entirely remote, has gone back to in-person work, or is operating under a hybrid model, it’s important to keep employee morale and wellness in check. Communicate regularly with your workforce to be mindful of any challenges they may be facing, and look out for early signs of burnout.
Corporate Health Fairs Offers
Employers – complete no-cost health and wellness events designed to engage and energize their most valuable assets… employees and executives. Custom-tailored solutions that empower employees to take a proactive role in their own wellness via direct access to our spectrum of local health development services and service providers.
Healthcare and Wellness Providers – Access to potential clients in an environment designed to foster health & wellness.
Insurance Brokers and Distributors – A unique business model that delivers a tremendous value-added benefit for your clients.
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