Every leader in the business sector is starting to pay attention to workplace wellness. This change in mindset is brought on by the rising number of health problems that employees experience as a result of a toxic workplace and tight deadlines. Employee productivity is the organization's key performance indicator. Employees' mental, physical, and emotional health can be affected by work-related issues. Additionally, bad employee health frequently creates a barrier and hinders productivity Research shows that if these issues are not promptly addressed, they might become life-threatening. Hence employers eventually understood that creating a positive work environment will result in productive staff and high employee retention. They were cognizant enough to recognize the fact that promoting workplace wellness inside a firm should become a top focus on a worldwide scale.
What is Workplace Wellness?
Workplace wellness is the term for programs or practices that promote employee health and well-being. There are many methods for businesses to promote a culture of health, from fitness programs and health information fairs to medical exams and healthcare subscriptions.Companies that invest in their employees are aware of the advantages of a healthy workplace. Firms discover that contented workers perform better, actively engage in business efforts, increase productivity, and effectively manage their time.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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59% of workers don't get the recommended amount of exercise each day
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More than 50% of people reported having elevated cholesterol
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27% experience cardiovascular issues
- "Overweight" BMI was recorded by 26% of respondents
- High blood pressure causes problems for 24% of people
The American Psychological Association found that work-life balance, health and safety, employee growth and development, employee recognition, and employee involvement are the five factors that make up a productive workplace. Therefore, while creating wellness programs, taking into account all elements of well-being must be a priority.
Benefits of having Employee Wellness Programs
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Reduction of health risks: Inactivity for a long time is always bad for employees’ lifestyles. Long periods of sitting at work can have a negative impact on an employee's health and well-being. Employee health should often be monitored via employee wellness initiatives. It may be done through biometric assessments, health promotions, competitions, etc. It promotes early detection of high-risk illnesses, keeping your staff fit and active at work.
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Increased worker engagement: Employers should make a lot of effort to include their staff in the workplace. Therefore, a staff wellness program serves as a spark to encourage everyone's active engagement.It offers a comprehensive approach to choosing a healthy lifestyle and includes a variety of walkathons, sporting activities, health fairs, and weight loss challenges. The employees feel empowered, and their connection to the company is strengthened.
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Stress and depression reduction: There are instances of tension and worry among the workers. Workplace burnout can occasionally cause people to change jobs. Missed deadlines or lost business can result in depression which would have catastrophic consequences for all stakeholders.Workplace wellness initiatives like meditation, yoga, or individualized sessions with a health coach can reduce stress and improve employees' mental health.
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Lower absenteeism rate: Healthy employees are less vulnerable to health. Wellness Programs aid in increasing one's concentration and productivity at work. It lowers the rate of workplace absences, positively affecting business expansion.
Wellness tips for employees
- Declutter your desk every day. Put everything back where they go and organize office supplies in storage trays, holders, or boxes.
- You may program an alarm on your phone every 60 minutes. On the alarm ring, stand up, stretch, take a few steps, and sip some water.
- Elevate and de-stress yourself during working hours by practising a few minutes of meditation.
- Attend frequent retreats or meditation programs and give a break to your mind from the hustles of the world.
- Invite your co-workers to a group exercise class. This can be a pleasant way to unwind after work.
- Instead of depending on canteen food and takeout, prepare wholesome home-cooked meals in preparation for the week.
- Try substituting a yoga ball for a chair, to enhance your posture, stability, and core strength while you are working.
- Create a zen-like and comfortable workspace for working by adding some plants to your cubicle.
Office wellness ideas for employers
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Strike conversations with your employees: This is a very basic, yet fundamental part of Employee Health and Wellness. An engaged and healthy workplace depends heavily on effective communication. Employee morale will increase if you foster a culture where discussing worries and emotions is encouraged. Implementing effective feedback sessions at work will enhance communication and bring people together to support the mission and values of the business.
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Organize "Mindful Mondays" (or any other day of the week): This helps to reduce stress and negative energy in your office. As per a report from the American Institute of Stress, around 50% of workers would appreciate assistance with stress management. 80% of workers experience stress at work. Employees could receive the tools they need to handle all this stress through a mindfulness class. Focused awareness and acceptance of the present are key components of mindfulness practice.
Organizations like Art of Living and other NGOs conduct workshops in this genre, which can help you strike a stress-free lifestyle.
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Encourage employees to experiment: Giving employees the freedom to select their preferred method of stress relief is the best approach to encouraging employee well-being. You can provide your staff members free time to engage in interests or talents that they would find too time-consuming during a standard workweek.Additionally, you may think about partnering with an organization that can provide your staff with the experience they've always desired. Firms can provide recognition to employees with a selection of expertly crafted immersive in-home or out-of-the-world awards.
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Bonus: Promote quitting smoking: Organizations or companies can go one step ahead in promoting employee wellness and health, by helping them quit smoking. According to research by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Wharton School, employees who were given financial incentives to give up smoking were three times more effective than those who weren't.
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Convert office meetings into walking meetings: Why not have meetings while walking? According to research, walking enhances creativity. That is correct! Walking and creativity are strongly correlated, according to Stanford researchers. Walking is possible both indoors and outside. The walk's location didn't appear to have any effect on how imaginative people were. So employers may have their walking meeting inside the workplace!
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The conventional front: Organizations or companies can also choose to operate conventionally by facilitating Fitness Challenges, scavenger hunts to bring a spark of fun, conducting mile-a-day challenges, etc.
How can the process be seamlessly structured?
Establish a Wellness Team
A committed wellness team or partner who can head a healthcare plan can make all the difference in the world. They may support the development of a wellness program inside an organization to spread awareness of the relevance and value of wellness culture. A well-experienced team in Employee Health and Wellness can bring in waves of changes.
Conclusion
88% of employees believe their definition of "success" has evolved, and they now place more value on work-life balance, mental health, and having a fulfilling career than a consistent wage, according to an Oracle study.
The FTSE 100 firms that prioritize employee engagement and well-being outperform the rest of the FTSE 100 by 10%, according to research from a mental health charity. According to them, businesses that invest in the well-being of their employees "reap the rewards via improved morale, loyalty, dedication, creativity, productivity, and profitability
Promoting health in the workplace is a strategic objective for many HR and employee experience professionals for 2023. The significance of both physical and mental well-being has received more attention during the past several years. Employees and employers have developed the understanding that a healthy workforce is crucial not just from a moral position but also from a financial standpoint as a result of a multi-year epidemic.
Schedule a demo to learn how your organisation can get the best employee health and well-being experience with ekincare's commitment to quality.
