It’s no secret that physically and mentally healthy employees will have a positive outlook on life and be productive and engaged at work. Saving money may be a primary motivation for most organizations and may not be 100% altruistic. But, it doesn’t alter the fact that good health is essential, and promoting it in a place where most of our working hours are spent, will have a significant impact on our lives that will spill over to the hours at home and our families, and to the community.  

So why not start with wellness and health in the workplace? That’s where we come in, with a few ideas on creating a healthy culture and carrying our employees on a journey toward wellness. Promoting employee wellness and health should be a priority for any employer who wants to create a thriving workplace. But, before creating a program to address employee wellness, how do we discover the need for wellness solutions? 

Do you need employee wellness solutions?

While that question may seem obvious, after all, who doesn’t need good health, it still needs to be addressed. The question has two parts – do my employees need employee wellness programs, and how to design a program that helps my specific workforce? That begs the question, how do I find out the current state of my employees’ health?  

Here’s how: 

Assessment: It is always the first step and involves individuals, organizations, and the community. For instance, we must gather information on the health risks and the demographic of the workforce. We also need data on the current practices, the infrastructure, and the existing work environment. Additionally, the extended community that offers food, transport, recreational activities, and other resources must also be assessed, after which comes: 

Evaluation: Implementing policies and offering health insurance coverage with benefits and counseling support will flow from a well-executed plan. Finally, you evaluate and discover the wellness plan results by looking at data on absenteeism, cost and quality of healthcare, overall good health among the employees, and the organizational health-centric culture. Now that you have the four stages of having a robust and healthy workplace, we will discuss how to achieve it with a few pointers.   

Ten ways to promote employee wellness

There are several benefits to improving employee health and well-being. Healthy and happy employees are more productive, have fewer sick days, and cost less to insure. Additionally, a healthy workforce is a more engaged and satisfied workforce, which leads to improved morale and decreased turnover. How do we promote wellness? 

1.Creating the role of a wellness coordinator

Even with an extended HR department, a wellness coordinator is essential. Organizations can promote employee well-being by hiring a wellness coordinator responsible for developing and implementing employee wellness programs. These programs are designed to promote healthy lifestyle choices and improve employee health. Wellness coordinators play a vital role and help create a culture of health within an organization, and their efforts can positively impact organizational performance. 

2. Providing onsite or nearby access to fitness facilities.

You will leave little room for an excuse if you provide onsite or nearby access to fitness facilities. The usual excuse of not having time to exercise or that it is expensive won’t pass. The natural outcome is better health and lower healthcare costs, increased productivity, and a perfect solution to ensure a positive work-life balance for employees. 

3. Training to improve health

A monthly or bi-monthly session on physical fitness and the benefits of good health can become a regular feature across all departments. If employees’ lack of interest in such training is a concern, they can be incentivized. Employees will stay on course if they realize that good health will bring their health insurance premiums down, which is reason enough to get with the program.  

4. Using Message boards

Message boards prominently displayed in break rooms work well when you encourage employee contribution. Instead of making the boards only for announcements, employees can add their suggestions, wellness goals, milestones, and achievements. Support in this form offers a peer group and will motivate employees to pay attention to their health. 

5. Offering resources on health and well-being

Not everyone is well versed in fitness programs or what would suit their healthcare needs. They may need help either from the wellness coordinator or through reading material. A designated healthcare corner that offers access to healthy eating, exercising, etc., will be practical. It could be a physical space or part of virtual employee wellness programs, with links to websites and online libraries. The aim is to inform and educate as part of their work culture. 

6. Advocating healthy eating habits

Promoting healthier eating habits is not the same as imposing a diet. You encourage employees to eat healthy foods by providing healthy snacks and meals in the workplace. A nutritionist can help create a diet chart that offers healthy options. One way to encourage employees to make healthier choices is to offer discounts on healthy snacks.  

7. Promoting balanced mental health

One of the things that the pandemic drove home is the link between physical and mental health. No healthcare program is complete without promoting mental health. Organizations offer a mental-health day every month where the employees can take the day off, no questions asked. Additionally, having in-house counselors to help employees during a few rocky phases will significantly promote employee wellness. 

8. Encouraging breaks and physical activity.

Encourage employees to take regular breaks during the workday to move around and get the blood circulation going. Offer stress management and relaxation techniques as part of an employee assistance program. You can organize company sports teams or hold fitness classes at lunchtime.  

9. Empowering a work-life balance culture

There was a theory that the longer hours you work, the better your chances of promotion. This theory has proven false time and again as it is not how long you work but how smart you work. There is incontrovertible proof that a healthy work-life balance with flexible hours and paid time off for personal days and vacations make employees maintain their energy levels and stay consistently productive.  

10. Providing health insurance benefits that encourage preventive care

Who hasn’t heard that prevention is better than cure? Preventive care is possible in organizations with health insurance benefits. Preventive care services promote workplace wellness, such as vaccination drives, screenings for cancer and other diseases, and counseling on healthy lifestyle choices.  

Implementing even a few of these ideas can make a big difference in promoting employee wellness and health. Employees are more likely to be productive, engaged, and motivated to do their best work when they are healthy and happy. 

Final thoughts

Promoting health and wellness will reduce sick days and absenteeism, increase employee engagement and productivity, and significantly impact the bottom line. And an organization that focuses on employee wellness speaks highly of an employer’s intent, i.e., putting into action a solid and healthy workforce that is vibrant, energized, and brimming with positivity as they do their work. It is the same energy they will take home, causing a ripple effect and creating a community of physically and mentally healthy individuals.