The workplace is an ever-changing space, and corporate wellness is no exception. In fact, corporate wellness is actually becoming a bigger and bigger deal lately. Recently, companies have begun to focus on the overall wellness of their employees beyond just physical health. Corporate wellness programs now encompass physical, mental, social, and financial health. In the past few years, companies have begun to realize the importance of employee wellness and how having a comprehensive wellness plan will not only lead to happy employees but overall business success.
Before we dive into the trends we’re seeing in employee wellness right now, we need to answer the question, what is employee wellness, and why is wellness important?
Employee wellness refers to the programs, policies, and benefits employers provide to support the overall health, safety, and wellbeing of their workforce. The goal is to take a holistic approach that addresses physical health, mental health, work-life balance, financial wellness, community building, and occupational safety.
Below are 5 key reasons corporate wellness services are important:
1. Improves productivity - Healthy, happy employees are more engaged and motivated at work. Wellness programs can help minimize downtime and absenteeism.
2. Reduces healthcare costs - Workplace wellness initiatives focused on prevention and education can lower an organization's health insurance and healthcare-related expenses.
3. Enhances recruitment and retention - A robust wellness program shows employees they are valued. This perk can give organizations an edge in attracting and retaining top talent.
4. Fosters a positive workplace culture - A supportive, community-oriented environment where employees feel their wellbeing is prioritized leads to greater job satisfaction.
5. Manages risks and safety - Proactive efforts to reduce workplace accidents, injuries, and mental health issues help mitigate organizational risk and legal liability.
Your employees’ wellbeing affects them every day at work, so as employers, you have the chance to help positively impact them. In fact, there is a ton of employee wellbeing research out there saying your employees want your help.
Here are a few quick statistics from workhuman:
- 80% of US businesses with more than 50 employees offer corporate wellness programs
- Nearly 9 in 10 employees consider benefits packages when evaluating an employer
- More than half of Gen Z and millennials consider wellness programs extremely important when looking for a job
- 67% of employees who have wellness programs like their jobs more and are more likely to recommend their company to others
There are a lot of out-of-the-box wellness ideas out there, but what are the top ones we see companies introducing?
Trending health and wellness programs:
- Mental health and wellness - With burnout and anxiety on the rise, especially due to the pandemic, there's a big focus on providing mental health resources like counseling, meditation apps, stress management programs, and more.
- Flexible and remote work options - Allowing for flexible schedules, remote work, and other options to promote work-life balance.
- Financial wellness - Programs to help employees manage their finances, pay off debt, and plan for retirement. This can include financial advising services, one-on-one coaching, financial education resources, and more.
- Health coaching - Providing personalized health coaching to help employees reach health and wellness goals related to nutrition, exercise, sleep, etc. This is often done through apps or telehealth services.
- Mindfulness and meditation - Offering resources and classes to teach mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises. This can help manage stress.
- Health screenings and challenges - Biometric screenings to help identify health risks. Also, holding company-wide fitness challenges, step competitions, and more to motivate employees.
There are also a lot of health and wellness activities you can implement daily for little to no money to encourage employees:
- Host a weekly walking meeting instead of sitting in a conference room
- Organize a weekly fitness challenge like tracking steps or push-up goals
- Offer on-site yoga or stretching classes led by an employee
- Sponsor employees in local 5K races and marathons
- Start a workplace sports team like softball or soccer
- Host brown bag lunches on nutrition, meditation, or mental health
- Bring in local farmers or vendors for a healthy food tasting
- Host workshops on financial wellness and stress management
- Establish walking trails or signage promoting stair use
- Provide standing desks or stability balls for desks
- Offer small incentives for health checkups or preventative scans
- Sponsor an annual health fair with local providers
Implementing workplace wellness initiatives is a smart investment for companies looking to improve employee health, boost engagement and retention, and lower healthcare costs. While programs like on-site gyms and nutrition counseling require major budgets, there are many simple, affordable steps organizations can take to prioritize employee wellbeing. From offering incentives for preventative care to providing educational workshops on health topics, small changes can make a difference. The potential returns like reduced absenteeism, higher morale, and increased productivity make corporate wellness programs a worthwhile consideration for both employees and the bottom line. With a little creativity, even companies with limited resources can build an impactful culture of health.