It's becoming more common for people to put their job before their health, such as by staying up late to complete tasks, skipping lunch, or even showing up to work when they are sick and should be resting. While this approach to work is considered admiral, it is also a recipe for disaster. Personal health should always come first. Aside from a better quality of life, being mentally and physically healthy also helps a person excel at work.
Companies that understand this offer corporate wellness programs, which provide numerous benefits and activities that promote well-being and health. In this Pacific Prime article, we'll look at the key steps for implementing one in the workforce.
Conduct a survey
The best corporate wellness plans are based on the needs of employees. In order to find out what those actual needs are, employers can create and conduct a workplace survey. Get detailed information by presenting several wellness ideas for perks and see which ones gain the most interest. Some ideas for budget-friendly wellness programs include:
- Flexible work schedules
- Catered lunches
- Free healthy snacks
- De-stress areas
- Fitness room
- Ergonomic work stations
- Employee incentives
- Group outings
- Paid time off
- Pets at work
Along with increasing workplace satisfaction, determining shared interests within the workforce can increase wellness and friendship.
Provide planning tools and flexibility
When it comes to good health and well-being, the main barriers tend to be money, time, and planning. Employers can help their employees by providing planning tools like guiding questionnaires to make it easier to work towards their health and fitness goals. Classes can also teach employees how to create milestones so they can reach their wellness goals.
What's more, offering paid time off makes it easier for employees to take care of their health needs since they don't have have to sacrifice their health for a paycheck. Employees will also appreciate and benefit from flexible working hours. For instance, an employee can come into work an hour earlier than scheduled so they can leave early to attend a fitness class.
Make wellness program involvement easier
Many employees spend at least 40 hours at work every week, typically performing arduous tasks before heading home to see to their family duties. Employers can make it easier for employees to participate in wellness programs by making it more convenient.
For example, employers can indicate a clear walking path near the office that can be used for breaks, add a small exercise room in the facility, or provide game tables like ping-pong in the breakroom. This approach enables employees to make the most of the time they are already spending in an area, thereby opening wellness possibilities that would otherwise be tricky for people with busy lives outside of work.
Integrate health into the company culture
On top of making wellness activities more convenient, it is also desirable to integrate health into the company culture. There are many ways to incorporate health into the workplace, such as by providing healthy snacks for free instead of vending machines or group stretching after weekly meetings.
Employers can also establish clear employee wellness program guidelines and include them in the employee handbook. The employee handbook can be handed out when recruiting and enrolling employees in their employee benefits package.
Host an onsite health and wellness event
A fun way for companies to introduce their wellness program is by hosting a health and wellness fair at work. With a guest list that includes employees and their families, companies can work with local wellness vendors and offer a selection of wellness interests to make the event a successful one. The wellness event should take place around two months prior to the annual open enrollment period.
Offer ongoing incentives
While the initial wellness fair is bound to be a fun experience, it should not be confused with ongoing education and promotion of the wellness program. Employers can incorporate it into their company culture by providing ongoing incentives for employees to work towards improving their health. Some ways to do this include an on-site fitness area, hosting walking clubs, and creating marketing focused on wellness in the workplace.
Give it some time
Workplace wellness culture won't happen overnight. Companies should have realistic expectations and realize that change will take some time. Additionally, the program must be measured in order to tell if it is working or not. Find ways to collect health-related data, such as with biometric screenings.
It's also important to run reports on a regular basis, as well as evaluate how the wellness program is affecting employee health. Remember that different workforces have different requirements. For example, a smoking cessation program will hardly help with costs if smoking and other related issues are not cost drivers affecting the corporate health insurance plan.
Employee health and well-being can significantly impact company culture, recruitment efforts, turnover rates, and productivity. By following the recommendations above, any company can smoothly implement a corporate wellness program.
If you're looking for an employee benefits package but don't know where to start, then you're in luck. Pacific Prime is an employee benefits broker that works with the best international health insurance companies to help you find the right package for your company and budget. Contact us to speak with one of our employee benefit consultants today.
