What is a workplace wellness program? It’s a wide-reaching umbrella term that includes stress management programs, diet and exercise initiatives, smoking cessation programs, and more. Healthy, happy employees are more productive than those who often feel ill or stressed out. Furthermore, employees who feel that their workplace supports them are more likely to stay with the company for a longer period of time.
How do you implement an effective workplace wellness program? Start with a few initiatives for employees to take better care of themselves. Incentivize them to make healthy choices by offering rewards to those who complete wellness assessments. The benefits of workplace wellness programs are many; let’s look at a few reasons to implement one today.
Increased Camaraderie Among Employees
Have you ever been grouchy in the morning due to a poor night’s sleep or an inadequate breakfast? When you and your employees aren’t feeling your best, you’re more likely to make your bad mood somebody else’s problem—and that’s no good for interpersonal relationships.
Encourage your employees to get a full eight hours of sleep every night. Hiring a third-party contractor to provide wellness seminars and programs can prove fruitful. Schedule mandatory seminars on subjects like sleep hygiene, dietary habits, and mindfulness. When you make attendance compulsory, you can ensure that your employees participate in the program and acquire knowledge that will help them both during and outside of work hours.
When your employees are more aware of their mental state and take care to eat balanced meals and get enough sleep, you’ll create a more positive work atmosphere. Encourage them to practice mindfulness and prioritize their mental health. Happy employees are effective employees!
Reduced Absenteeism
Related to the above, if your employees are taking care of themselves outside of work hours, they are more likely to get to work on time. And when the office is fully staffed and ready to work, you increase your office’s productivity.
You’ll also save money on sick days and worker’s compensation claims. An employee who is fully awake and in good health is less likely to sustain an injury on the job. Many wellness programs implement health assessments and screenings; if an employee knows they have certain health risks, they can make informed decisions at the doctor’s office.
As you focus on your employees’ physical health and alertness on the job, look into drawing up a drug and alcohol policy for the workplace. A sober employee is less likely to show up late or miss the day entirely. Depending on your state’s laws and regulations, you may be able to implement a drug testing policy to ensure that your employees are sober and clear-headed on the job. Urine tests are the most common type of drug test in the workplace. You can choose from a variety of urine drug test cups offered by American Screening, depending on how extensive you want the test to be.
If you choose to drug test your employees and one of them tests positive for illicit substances, consider offering them an opportunity to complete a rehabilitation program. Workplace wellness programs can include incentives to kick bad habits like smoking, overeating, and drug use. Encourage an employee who tests positive to complete a rehab program. Upon their return to work, you may want to perform follow-up drug tests to keep them on track. When your employees know that you take absenteeism seriously and that you want to help them improve their performance, they’ll be more at ease in the office. In addition, when you demystify drug testing and emphasize that testing positive is not the end of the world, the process will be less stressful for your employees.
Achievement of Goals
There’s nothing quite like the proverbial gold star to motivate you and your employees to pursue your goals and ambitions. Some workplace wellness programs incorporate a competitive element. If a group of you are interested in losing weight, make a numbers game out of it! Keep track of everyone’s progress and offer a prize for the winners. When a person knows they’ve got a group of “cheerleaders” on their side, they’ll feel more motivated to reach their goal. That drive and ambition spill over into work-related tasks, too! Encourage a can-do attitude toward all aspects of an employee’s life.
Many employers offer incentives to their employees to attend seminars and complete wellness programs. A discount on their insurance premium encourages them not to put off going to the doctor when something doesn’t feel right. The promise of gift cards or event tickets could be just the inspiration somebody needs to complete a smoking cessation program and kick the habit for good. Stay in your employees’ corner and ensure that they’ve got one another’s backs as well. You can walk the road to wellness together.
Increased Company Loyalty
Which company would you rather work for: one that punishes you for tardiness or low productivity, or one that encourages you to form better habits? When you put a workplace wellness program into practice, you show your employees that you’re interested in their happiness. And when people know that their boss wants them to be happy and healthy, they’re more inclined to stay with the company. When your team is staffed with happy, fulfilled, seasoned employees, your productivity will skyrocket. You’ll also save time and money on hiring and training new employees. Cherish the staff you’ve got, and your employees will have nothing but good things to say about your company. And when you do need to hire new staff, potential candidates will be more excited to work for you.
The benefits of workplace wellness programs are crucial and wide-reaching. Once you take an interest in your employees’ well-being, you create a more positive workplace environment for everyone. Complete wellness programs yourself, too; when you know how to take care of yourself, you can set an example for your employees. Wellness in the workplace can mean anything from a smoke-free environment to a seminar on meditation. Offer your employees the opportunity to learn about wellness, and soon you’ll have a more motivated, fulfilled staff.
