Workplace Wellness Whisperer – (Apr 9)

Hello Workplace Wellness Seeker,

Are you wondering why your workplace wellness program is not working?

Workplace wellness programs fail for just as many reasons as they succeed. According to some amazing research data by University of Texas the ROI on comprehensive, well-run employee wellness programs is impressive, sometimes as high as six to one.

To achieve those kinds of results, employers cannot merely offer workers a few passes to a fitness centre and nutrition information in the cafeteria. The most successful wellness programs are supported by six essential pillars:

  1. Engaged leadership at multiple levels
  2. Strategic alignment with the company’s identity and aspirations
  3. A design that is broad in scope and high in relevance and quality
  4. Broad accessibility
  5. Internal and external partnerships
  6. Effective communications.

Companies that have built their employee wellness programs on all six pillars have reaped big rewards in the form of lower costs, greater productivity, and higher morale. Those benefits are not easy to achieve but the track record inspires emulation, especially when you see the numbers.

I invite you to benefit from this video series where I discuss the 5 mistakes wellness professionals make that hamper the effectiveness of their wellness program. Visit my YouTube channel.

I’m am happy to share with you a summary of this week’s workplace wellness tips that are simple, practical and easy to implement.  

Tip #1 – Lacks Leadership Support

Wellness programs don’t happen without the support of key leaders. Identify your resources and key people, and engender their ongoing backing. If you introduce wellness programs but have senior leaders and managers who don’t foster well-being employees may end up seeing your wellness communications as just lip service. But when wellness is at the heart of everything you do, it’s easier to share it with employees and watch them follow your lead. Basically, I’m asking the leaders to walk-the-talk! Consider creating a wellness committee so that your employees have a say in co-creating their wellness program.

Tip #2 – Lacks Integration

Avoid creating something quickly that doesn’t tap into long-term behavioral change. Instead, establish a comprehensive strategic plan that builds employee engagement over time. Make sure the wellness program is customized to your organizations needs and aligned with the company’s mission and goals. And just as important that it’s integrated with other cultural and wellbeing initiatives and programs. And remember to be measuring progress and results so it can be improved and successes can be celebrated. Why not include a wellness goal in your staff ’s yearly performance objectives? So instead of thinking about wellness as just a program, make sure it’s part of your corporate culture.

Listen to episode #39 with Rita Savoia, where I share with you 9 science backed tips for an effective morning routine to help you start your day for a healthier, happier and more productive life. Listen on the Self-Care Goddess Podcast.

Tip #3. Lacks engagement

As you can imagine, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work well for well-being and health concerns. In a workplace where there’s usually a mix of Gen X, Baby Boomers, and Millennials, it may feel challenging to address everyone’s issues. So I recommend Surveying individual generations and their needs can help leadership better understand what type of programs would work best for each group. This is to support employee choice without making it overwhelming, consider providing a wellness credit so employees can choose the activity that works best for them. Make wellness programs accessible by sharing information through team meetings, corporate emails and your corporate intranet.

Tip #4. Lacks Consistency

Avoid trying for quick fix wellness initiatives such as often “flavor of the month,” challenges, contests, biometric screening, and lunch-and-learn events, that are often forgotten or worst not integrated with other initiatives or not followed up on. Consistency can carve mountains. Having a well thought out integrated wellness plan demonstrates to your employees that you’re serious and dedicated to their wellbeing. This will increase their participation because they will come to expect it and even look forward to it. Provided that you’ve created the program with their feedback and needs in mind.

Get started with your workplace wellness strategy with my Workplace Wellness Calendar here.

Tip #5. Lacks a Holistic Approach

Some wellness programs lack a Holistic Approach to Physical & Mental Health. While customizing the program to your workforce is important, make sure you don’t end up with a fragmented initiative focusing just on physical wellness like exercise and eating well. Since body and mind are connected, giving your employees physical wellness tools without any tools to combat stress such as breathwork will yield only partial results.

If you’re ready to leverage your workplace wellness strategy and explore how to optimize individual, team and your company’s performance, book your complimentary Workplace Wellness call here.

Download my FREE morning routine here and learn how to: Increase Energy, Improve Sleep and Decrease Mood Swings.

References:

https://hbr.org/2010/12/whats-the-hard-return-on-employee-wellness-programs