Employee wellness means employee happiness

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught employers anything, it is that providing a healthy workplace for their employees should be a top priority. This is true not only for the emotional, physical and mental benefit of employees but also for the return on investment for employers. After all, happy, healthy employees are more productive and less likely to miss work.One way companies are supporting the physical and mental health of employees is through company-sponsored employee wellness programs. These are programs undertaken by an employer in order to improve employee health and also to help individual employees overcome particular health-related problems. They include programs, policies, benefits, and environmental supports designed to encourage the health and safety of all employees.Wellness programs could include fitness programs, health screenings and preventative care, and include activities like stress management education, exercise programs, weight loss competitions, and wellness assessments.

What Are The Benefits Of a Successful Workplace Wellness Program?There are many reasons why it is beneficial for companies to support and encourage wellness in the workplace, not the least of which is improving employee health behavior. By improving the behaviors of a workforce, employees lower their health risks and adopt healthy habits that will benefit all areas of their lives. That leads to a myriad of benefits for employees and employers alike, including:

Lower costs for employers

Reduced employee stress

Increased productivity

Less employee burnout

Higher employee retention

Improved workplace morale

Programs should emphasize employee wellbeingWellness programs can focus on anything from pre-work stretching to nutritional education, and can help develop a work environment that will enable employees to be healthier and reduce their risk of getting injured. According to OSHA, companies could reduce the number of injuries occurring during work hours by 15% by implementing wellness programs aimed at education.The types of employee wellness programs vary per size of the business, with many companies focusing on teaching their employees how to make healthy lifestyle choices. Some examples of employee wellness initiatives that can be adopted in the workplace include:

Fitness activities. Many jobs involve repeated motions, which can lead to Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) like tennis elbow. Employees who sit long hours in an office need time to exercise or move around. Regular stretching and exercise can reduce the likelihood of an employee developing one of these injuries. Some companies even provide on-site gym services and fitness classes to help their employees keep fit.

Smoking cessation programs. Employees who smoke cigarettes cost their employers more money due to health issues compared to non-smokers. Some workplaces have found it in their best interest, both ethically and economically, to offer smoking cessation programs to their employees.

Lunch and healthy snacks. Promoting healthy eating in the workplace benefits everyone. Instead of workers leaving for a fast-food lunch, providing a lunch and snack program will allow them to stay on campus, eat healthily and engage with their coworkers.

Employee assistance programs. These employer-sponsored programs provide employees with personal support for issues such as substance abuse, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Naps. While it may seem counterintuitive, naps have clinically proven benefits when it comes to productivity. Allowing employees a brief nap after lunch allows them to return to their projects with renewed energy.

Did You Know?

According to the Academy to Innovate HR, in 2021, the percentage of employers that invested in wellness solutions for their employees…

88% Mental Health
81% Stress Management/Resilience
87% Telemedicine

Starting an Employee Wellness ProgramThe key to success for any employee wellness program is employee engagement. Engagement involves creating and maintaining a sincere interest and involvement in living a healthy life—at home and at work. Active participation in these programs results in employees making healthy decisions (e.g., choosing healthy foods, quitting tobacco, exercising regularly, managing stress, drinking less alcohol).Engagement also includes employee input and involvement in the design and execution of the wellness program. When designing a company’s employee wellness program, it is important to ensure that all parts of the program are tailored to provide benefits for both the staff and the company. Set up a dedicated team with HR supervision to create the program. Talk with employees to identify the areas that need to be addressed, then develop goals for the program and the strategies that can be used to achieve them.Finally, use your company’s communication channels, such as company newsletters, social media and bulletin boards, to let employees know about the program and how they can participate.A good employee wellness program should cater to the employees’ emotional, physical, and mental wellness. Consider addressing some of the simple initiatives first to generate change momentum. As your program matures, you can always tackle some of the more difficult issues. The important thing is to get started!