Hewlett Packard’s latest benefit is a virtual vegetable garden

A newly-adopted benefit aims to teach employees how to sustainably grow their own produce, while improving their mental health.

Hewlett Packard partnered with StartOrganic, a virtual garden platform, to offer a new wellness program to their workforce. The app teaches employees how to plant and maintain an organic garden through webinars, posts and Q&A sessions on Microsoft Teams. Hewlett Packard executives hope the program will encourage healthy eating and foster wellness in their global workforce.

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“Everyone looks forward to starting their gardens, engaging with their families in the process and connecting with other team members in new ways,” said Allison Stark, manager of global wellness for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, in a release. “Employees are able to literally see the fruits of their labor that allows all involved to feel accomplishment and success.”

Eighty-five percent of Americans say their eating habits have changed due to the pandemic, and just 22% reported eating healthier, according to a survey by the International Food Information Council. One-third of Americans say they are snacking more, and 47% say they are eating more sweets.

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Encouraging healthy eating is not only beneficial from a nutritional standpoint, it also reduces an employer’s healthcare spend: for every dollar spent on an employer-sponsored wellness program, businesses saved $3 in healthcare costs per employee, according to a report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

While gardening helps introduce whole fruits and vegetables into our diets, it also helps foster positive mental health. According to Psychology Today, gardening can help people “develop a growth mindset,” and connect with others.

This connection is especially crucial during the pandemic, as 48% of employees reported they were at a higher risk of depression between November and December, according to the Mental Health Index by Total Brain and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. Employees also reported their motivation and focus decreased by 62%.

StartOrganic’s platform helps facilitate connection and healthy habits by allowing employees to video chat with their colleagues and gardening professionals.

“[The program] provides a fresh approach to supporting the mental health needs of employees, especially since we had to consider new ways to engage team members due to the pandemic,” Stark said.