Wellness and wellbeing are often interchangeably used words. But it is far more different than it seems. Even though both are interrelated, both are different concepts. Both concern more on a person's efficiency, but it is essential to understand the difference they expected to generate. Wellness is just about a person's good health or employees' good health, which tends to create more productive work. On the contrary, wellbeing is about the person's physical and mental fitness, which cheers them to stay long-term in a company.
So, it is essential to understand the difference between these words. The language and phrases we use while communicating make sense to readers and listeners; here, we can consider employees. More importantly, when it is about them. Shakespeare says, "What's in a name?". The answer is, there is much in words and how they are mobilized.
People must be aware of the words' denotative and connotative meanings. Denotative is the dictionary meaning of the word like a snake is scaly, cylindrical, and legless reptiles found mostly in temperate and tropical regions, and connotative is associated meaning of the word like snake refers to the danger or evil thing or event. This article is going to focus on these words with both aspects.
Before jumping on the definitions and differences, let us see a significant concern for a company. It is more related to the workplace. An environment in a workplace has a more substantial effect on the company's growth. For any industry or organization, employees' performance is vital for overall development. But is it equally important for any employees how well they can work in any niche? It should provide an empathetically accurate environment for their and the company's growth.
Wellness vs Wellbeing
The word was originally born in the '60s and preferably used with healthcare-related terms like a spa. It is more relatable to the consequences of the spa. It throws light on health and prevention. Eventually, the term got famous among the government and organizations. Even the medical folks started using the word when they got to know that consumers are enthusiastically embracing it and paying a lot out-of-pocket for wellness.
Coming to its denotative meaning, it is more like 'absence of illness.' And the connotative meaning is, it refers to a person's good health physically. It is a collaborative aspect at a workplace that employees must provide to work at a fluent pace. That will check the diseases or disorders that an employee should get rid of to give maximum output. It has a term called "Workplace wellness," which every organization should give importance to.
Now talking about a person's health conditions includes obesity, diabetes, smoking, allergies, asthma or weekend eyes. All these decrease the productivity of employees, and that does have a great impact on the organization. So the firms started adopting the "wellness" programs that tend to address physical affliction. It comprises yoga class, exercises, abundance to smoking, playing hours and many more. These healthcare programs aimed to optimize the employee's health care coverage. It is expected that the wellness of employees will lead to the well of firms.
Wellness programs, as mentioned above, are important for the employees and also for the firms. However, it didn't work as it was projected to give results. So there comes "wellbeing" into the frame.
Happiness is added to the mix of wellness, which makes a new concept of "wellbeing." These words are used in place of each other but have a different aspect to look at.
Dictionary meaning of this is "the state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy." Connotative meaning refers to wellness, plus being satisfied and happy.
Wellness programs mainly focus on a person's physical health improvement. That alone doesn't make an employee entirely fit for efficient work. Any employee who lacks focus, concentration and stability will not be considered eligible for work. Then comes the idea to regulate a person's mental health disorders with the body. Wellbeing programs have a room for both physical and mental health. It includes the activities that ensure recovery from any physical disorders, prevention for further cause and mental health issues. Work place is so developed that it becomes an employee-friendly environment where they feel most comfortable.
Mental health disorders include stress, depression, mood swings, and dissatisfaction, which causes an unstable mind and, ultimately, a lack of creativity and productivity. The past few decades show changes in lifestyles readily. It has less time for a person's mental health. Several reasons are there for a person's unstable mind like unsatisfied work they do, staying away from family and friends, financial issues, less time for themselves, and many more. Perhaps, women are more affected by depression than men. Including all these common reasons, women suffer more depression for harassment, growing age, and peer pressure. All these leads to loss of self-worth, lack of confidence, low concentration, or anxiety.
Wellbeing programs at the workplace are required to maintain consistency and perseverance. It includes the onsite-fitness centers, smoking cessation program, transit options, paramedical services. Paramedical services should have spa and beauty treatment facilities for women, including IPL laser hair removal treatment and exercises to look young.
Women who look good and feel good have a higher ratio of achievements. Overall that will add to the wellbeing of a company.
One of the world's comprehensive problems for having unproductive and less creative workers is uneven revenues. It will create an envious environment among the workers. A firm should propose a few financial policies that deal with the payments based on performance and experience.
Now, companies differ in their levels of wellbeing. Those having higher wellbeing are expected to grow economically. However, higher well being is only possible when their public agrees to the idea of well being. Companies hire coaches or mentors for wellbeing programs that encourage them to pursue such activities and seek help from them, whether physical or mental issues. Employees should be empathetically convinced to take an interest in such programs.
Wellbeing creates a room for engagement. In the workplace, engagement establishes an employee's emotional attachment with their work, with other employees, teams, their superiors, and the overall environment. It will emphasize them to work harder and stay at the place for a longer time. Of course, employees who work for a more extended period become more reliable.
Why is the Difference Important?
People must be aware of the difference between wellness and wellbeing. The language used in any company evolves to the company's culture. The one with wellbeing programs is more preferred over the one with wellness programs. It decides the present and future of a firm based on how well it goes with the employees. Gen Z has more harsh working systems that generate physical and mental health issues. They tend to spend most of the time in the workplace, which then becomes the company's responsibility to keep checking their problems.
Wellbeing programs may not give expected results but can improve their employees' growth, which will result in perks for their company sooner or later.
