In a similar way that a sales team cares for a new lead, every employee needs to be nurtured and have their pain points addressed before being expected to show up fully to work every day.
But how can you guarantee that your efforts are actually enabling your employees to
The initiative to improve work-life balance and increase the well-being of your employees starts with a workplace wellness program. Let’s take a look at some statistics that show just how impactful wellness can be in the workplace:
- Johnson & Johnson leaders estimate that their wellness program has cumulatively saved the company
$250 million on health care costs over a decade, the return cost being $2.71 for every dollar spent. - Over six years of a wellness program being implemented at MD Anderson Cancer Center, missed workdays
declined by 80% . - A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that employees who leveraged wellness programs ended up saving their companies about
$353 in recouped productivity , which they gained as a result of their newfound wellness.
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It’s time to show your employees how much you care about their well-being by supporting all areas of their wellness. Here are a few steps that your organization can take to implement a workplace wellness program and start reaping the benefits of a collectively healthier workplace.
Conduct wellness assessments
The first step is to understand the health and wellness needs of team members. An anonymous survey is a great way to collect information about their mental, physical, social, and financial well-being in order to assess everyone’s needs. You will also gain insight into how a wellness program might be perceived by your employees, and what type of sessions would be the most beneficial for them.
Keep in mind that a wellness program is much more than just an exercise or weight loss initiative. Many programs offer classes and sessions that are jam-packed with a variety of wellness options, including
Get everyone on board (Especially the leadership team)
In order to build and sustain a wellness culture in your organization, it’s important to gain representation
Executive buy-in is important for funding purposes, spreading support throughout your organization, and policy approval. On the other hand, managerial buy-in links wellness objectives to business outcomes, in turn positioning the wellness program as a fundamental part of the organization’s success and growth. Last but not least, employee buy-in will guarantee that your employees are excited about the implementation of the program and are ready to make health a priority in their lives.
Determine how to get started with clear goals and objectives
Bring the plans for your wellness program to life by documenting program policies, which should include the organization’s intent, level of involvement, and a rewards and incentives system. You could even go the extra mile and give your program an identity — a fun name that employees can use when referring to the program.
You’ll also want to identify clear goals and objectives of the wellness program in order to prove the value of it to the leadership team. Some goals can be:
- Establish a realistic goal for reducing healthcare costs
- Reduce absenteeism by X percent next year
- Increase productivity by X percent next year
And if you choose to partner with a platform to run the program, you may find
- Less bandwidth needed internally to run the wellness program
- The program is run by expert health & wellness coaches, instructors, and doctors
- Ongoing implementation, monitoring, and reporting aspects are taken care of by a third party
Consistency is key to building a wellness program into your company culture. A helpful way to stay accountable is by setting a goal to hold a 5-minute meditation before each weekly team meeting. Make sure that you and your team stick to it, and don’t let the routine fall by the wayside.
Wellness is all about maintenance
After your organization successfully implements a wellness program, it’s important to continue to measure its effectiveness and make changes as needed. Don’t forget to conduct surveys each quarter to get a pulse check on employees’ level of interest and benefit from the wellness program, and include a space for them to provide feedback and requests.
With a workplace wellness program, you can help your employees reach their wellness goals and bolster workplace satisfaction, all while saving your organization money on healthcare-related costs and increasing company productivity. There is no better time to get started with a wellness program than right now. It won’t be long before you notice the positive impact as your employees improve their well-being while you continue to build a strong and resilient workforce.
