Why and How Employee Wellness Benefits the Workplace
March 18, 2021 | 
GeneralMental health
Your employees deserve to have a workplace environment that is good for them. More and more companies are discovering the benefits of focusing on employee wellness.
But what is employee wellness? Why should you implement a wellness program? And what are the benefits?
What is a wellness program?
An employee wellness program is an initiative where the employers consider their employees’ health and wellness. It considers overall well-being, including mental health, physical health, and emotional well-being.
What does a program look like?
Any program that benefits the employees and doesn’t require effort or cost from the employees. Here are some examples:
- Providing a Chaplain
- Having on-site gym access for employees
- Stress reduction and management sessions
- Encouraging breaks in a break room
- Nap space
- Healthy food and drink on site
Those are just a few of the options that help support your team’s wellness.
What are the benefits of a program?
When you offer a wellness program and your staff takes part in the offerings, there are some direct benefits for the company.
Less Illness
Stress and generally feeling tired and run down can have a negative impact on the health of your team. They are more likely to require time off.
However, when you are offering support in physical, mental, and emotional health, there is a reduction in the required sick days an employee books off.
Employee Engagement
Higher employee engagement will give you a higher level of productivity from your team. The American Psychological Association found that 91% of employees at companies that support well-being are more motivated to do their best at work.
Work Satisfaction
In an AFLAC Workforce Report, it was found that employees that took part in workplace wellness initiatives were more satisfied with their jobs.
Due to the team’s access to extra support, they are more likely to say they are satisfied.
When employees are satisfied with their work, they are highly unlikely to look for different work and will continue to produce high-quality work at a reasonable rate.
Culture Benefits
The company culture is a vital part of being inclusive and open. Wellness programs directly impact the company culture in a positive way. They foster a positive relationship between the company and its employees.
Not only that, but a positive culture will allow the team to communicate and work together better too. This synergy is ideal for pushing the company forward with its goals and keeps the company vision forefront in their minds.
From that, a healthy culture will allow staff as individuals to explore their own potential in a safe and supportive environment that will reward them for their hard work.
Retention & Recruiting
Replacing staff costs time and money. A happy staff is less likely to look for alternative employment.
If you have a high employee turnover, then it is worth taking time to research why people are leaving and what you can do within your wellness program to retain them.
In a competitive world, it can be challenging to attract quality talent. A wellness program with obvious benefits for the employees will ensure that your company looks more attractive to potential employees.
The bottom line is that a wellness program within your company gives you happier and healthier staff. The biggest benefactor from these changes is the company itself.
