As an employer, taking care of and supporting your employees is the most important responsibility of running a business. Establishing an inclusive culture and focusing on employee health can boost productivity, encourage teamwork, and increase better communication. One way this can be accomplished is by offering wellness initiatives across the organization.
Types of wellness initiatives
Wellness programs, which can be held virtually or in-person, vary from topic to topic. But all are headed toward the same goal: to improve the health and wellbeing of your employees, both in and out of work. Generally led by a subject-matter expert, some examples of topics may include:
- Mental health awareness
- Nutrition facts vs. myths
- Debt or financial management
- Sleep management
- Exercise tips and programs
Impact of wellness initiatives
The benefits of wellness programs are abundant. Not only can it improve employee health overall by providing education on sensitive subjects, but it can also elevate communication between teams by opening new conversation, increasing attendance rate in the office, and reducing stress levels overall.
Adina Goldman, Principal at Green Key and Head of Corporate Human Resources, mentions, “A dynamic wellness program is important for employees not only to address various wellness concerns that they may be experiencing in real time, but also to work preventatively by empowering employees with resources to get ahead of any wellness concerns that could arise. Further, by offering an employer-sponsored wellness program, employers are able to underscore how they view the importance of the health and well-being of their employees. When employees see this type of holistic approach put into action, it will likely lead to higher engagement and overall satisfaction with the company.”
All in all, offering webinars or in-person events to boost wellness across the company is a key step to becoming a supportive employer. It allows your employees to feel a sense of belonging in the workplace and assures them that you are listening. Every so often, be sure to send out company-wide surveys to determine the topics of conversation everyone would like to learn more or less about. It’s all about letting your people bring their best self to work.
