Employee well-being programs can be a meaningful investment resulting in a healthier, happier, more engaged workforce. But what does a comprehensive well-being program look like? In this blog we outline the most common elements of workplace wellness programs today.
When you offer a well-being program, you demonstrate that you value employees and are invested in helping them make lasting improvements to their health and overall happiness. Your organization also stands to see important benefits like:
- Greater employee engagement. Our research shows employees who feel their organization cares for their well-being are 56% more engaged at work.
- An enhanced culture of well-being. Employees today expect more than a paycheck—they want to work for organizations that appreciate them and prioritize their well-being. A strong company culture can make a huge difference in how people show up to work each day.
- Lower turnover. Employees who feel cared for are 34% more likely to stay with their organization.
- Better financial performance. Improved employee well-being can drive growth, boost financial performance and provide positive shareholder return.1 2
Of course, every organization has different priorities and working environments, so there is truly no one-size-fits-all well-being program. However, there are several key elements that tend to ensure your well-being program is covering all the right bases.
10 workplace wellness programs and strategies that emphasize employee well-being.
1. Lifestyle coaching.
Whether the coaching is live, virtual, or via chat, this resource is a critical component of a well-being program. A coach works one-on-one with employees to develop personalized plans for incorporating physical activity, improving food choices, tobacco cessation, weight management, managing stress and mental health and more.
Having a relationship with a coach creates the accountability many employees need to reach their goals. In addition to accountability, coaches provide problem-solving support, helping people remove barriers that may be keeping them stuck. They are a true partner in the health journey.
Learn more: What To Look for in a Health Coaching Program for Employees.
2. Health assessment.
A health assessment is a common feature of a well-being program. The health assessment asks participants questions related to their well-being, provides a report about their current health status, and gives immediate suggestions to help them begin improving their well-being.
Taken annually, a health assessment is also a great way for employees to see how their health has progressed over the past year. It allows them to celebrate their hard work and see new opportunities to improve their health.
3. Biometric screenings.
Biometric screenings give employees a snapshot of key health indicators that can reveal risks for certain chronic conditions. A standard biometric screening typically includes: height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, a full lipid panel (total cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) and glucose.
When offered onsite or at a convenient location, these screenings can help people spot health concerns early so they can connect with their primary care physician and begin making changes. Combined with health coaching and/or educational resources, biometric screenings can also be powerful motivators for positive lifestyle changes.
4. Physical activity.
Encouraging employees to find time to be active each day is a common goal for most well-being programs—both for the physical as well as mental health benefits it brings. Being active can mean simply getting outside for a walk to benefit from the fresh air and sunshine. Group exercise classes and yoga sessions (onsite or virtual), discounts on gym memberships and wearable devices to track steps continue to be popular ways to encourage physical activity through a well-being program.
5. Weight management.
Helping employees reach or maintain a healthy weight is a key component of any well-being program, and an important way to support overall employee health. Support for weight management might include sessions with a health coach, access to weight management programs, access to daily behavior trackers, nutrition seminars and healthy options in the cafeteria. Our lifestyle coaches help address the specific needs of participants who are taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, including tips for muscle strengthening, eating enough protein and coping with the mental and emotional changes that might arise while on a weight loss journey.
6. Wellness challenges.
Corporate-wide wellness challenges are a way to inject fun into a well-being program. Challenges can be as simple as drinking more water or achieving a certain number of steps each day—anything that rallies employees around a common goal and builds morale with healthy competition. Our Invitational Team Steps Challenge, in which participants compete in small groups to tally the most steps per week, is always a hit. It gives people on different teams who may not otherwise communicate the opportunity to connect and compete together, and the inspiration to keep moving each day.
Learn more:
- Wellness Challenge Ideas for the Workplace
- How To Plan and Launch a Successful Wellness Challenge for Your Employees
7. Mental health resources.
Mental health is just as important as, and is directly impacted by, good quality sleep, daily physical activity and eating well. Employers are increasingly supporting employees’ mental health with mental health coaching, digital mental health support, onsite mental health counselors and free access to mindfulness and meditation apps.
Well-being programs also help employees manage stress, build resilience and reduce burnout, which some estimates claim costs employers anywhere from $4,000 to $21,000 per employee every year. Stress management and resilience-building programs can help employees find space in the day to relax and recover quickly after experiencing challenges.
8. Menopause support.
All women will experience menopause at some point in their lives, and many will suffer from symptoms that disrupt daily life, including trouble sleeping, increased anxiety, brain fog and hot flashes. Fortunately, employers are starting to step up their support for menopause through their well-being programs, including menopause education and health coaching with coaches who are specially trained to offer menopause support.
9. Social connections.
Loneliness and isolation are on the rise. Given that we spend up to a third of our lives at work, a lack of social connections there can negatively affect employee well-being and workplace culture. Well-being programs can help foster social connections among employees through employee resource groups, events that bring people together in person, wellness challenges or offering time off to volunteer together.
Learn more: Combating Loneliness: Fostering Social Connection in the Workplace
10. Support to quit tobacco.
Employees who use tobacco cost employers more due to health issues than non-tobacco users, so cessation programs are common in a well-being program. In addition to the right pharmaceutical interventions, a health coach who offers encouragement and support for creating new, healthier lifestyle habit can be the key to success.
While there are no hard and fast rules around what must be included in a well-being program, having the elements above will provide a solid foundation for new and existing programs. For help in creating or expanding a holistic well-being program for your organization, request a demo today.
