Employee wellness should be a top priority in every company. From improved productivity, reduced absenteeism, increased staff retention and, ultimately, improved ROI, the importance of corporate wellness initiatives cannot be understated.
One-off wellness days versus year-round initiatives: the pros versus the cons
Some corporates opt for one-off wellness days, where employees are provided the opportunity to engage with health and wellness experts, take a break from their usual office routine, and discover more about their own health and well-being. While one-off wellness days do play a role in employee wellness, they’re not the ideal long-term solution, says Leanne Ebell, Key Accounts Manager at Life Health Solutions.
‘One-off wellness days can create big hype among employees, and allow teammates to bond with each other and let loose a little,’ she says. ‘The challenge, however, is that these events are not always followed up with sustained efforts to promote long-term employee well-being. And consistency is key to not only building healthy habits but also creating a culture of wellness within an organisation.’
Year-round wellness initiatives, meanwhile, provide ongoing support for staff across multiple areas of mental, physical and emotional health. ‘Incorporating frequent wellness initiatives into your corporate culture leads to an increase in employee engagement and morale: employees feel valued when their well-being is prioritised by their employer. This ultimately can improve job satisfaction and staff retention – not to mention boost productivity and improve ROI,’ says Leanne. ‘On an individual level, these frequent initiatives will also help employees cultivate healthy habits and behaviours over time.’
How to implement year-round wellness initiatives
The first step is to set up a wellness committee to champion the cause. Choose a diverse group of individuals who will best represent the makeup of the organisation. Ultimately, these individuals need a passion for health and wellness, too.
Next, identify the wellness needs and concerns of the employees. Send out surveys or host focus groups: employee involvement from the early stages of the programme will help with their long-term buy-in.
Once the groundwork has been done, the wellness committee can set up a wellness calendar, aligning events and initiatives with pertinent topics and global wellness days. It’s key to design a comprehensive programme that addresses all aspects of wellness, including physical and mental health, nutrition, and stress management. This could look like:
Once the company wellness calendar has been established, it’s time to spread the news. Market the wellness events effectively across multiple channels, including corporate newsletters and communication tools, flyers, and posters.
Encourage participation among employees by providing incentives: gift cards, time off work, gym memberships and healthy food hampers are just a few ideas to entice employees to participate.
Check in with staff regularly post-event: did they find the wellness event beneficial? What were the pros and cons? How could the event be improved? Use the feedback to tweak and refine upcoming events.
Make wellness part of the company culture
A wellness calendar is the first step in the right direction, but adopting wellness as part of the company culture is the next step to ensuring employees are adopting healthy habits as part of their day-to-day routine.
Leadership and management buy-in serve as the initial step towards changing company culture. ‘Lead from the front,’ says Leanne. ‘When employees see their leaders prioritising their health and well-being, they’re more likely to follow suit.’
Flexibility has been a much-discussed work arrangement, particularly post-pandemic. It’s widely believed that flexible work arrangements, such as flexible hours or remote work options, are hugely beneficial to employees' well-being. This, in turn, results in a successful workplace. Where possible, offer employees flexibility in their work schedule.
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: sitting is the new smoking. A host of research continues to show that sitting for more than eight hours without any physical activity is associated with a mortality risk comparable to that caused by obesity and smoking. Encourage physical activity throughout the work day by incorporating stand-up meetings, lunchtime walks, or quick 10-minute yoga sessions to encourage movement throughout the day.
For more information or support related to the physical health of employees, let us help you. Email hello@lifehealthcare.co.za, call (+27) 86 123 4123 to speak to one of our business development managers, or visit our website.
