Companies that invest in human capital are assured of the benefits associated with the well-being of their employees. The best leaders know that a happy employee tends to perform better and to actively take on work initiatives with greater commitment. Not to mention the fact that a state of personal fulfillment increases productivity and the use of time more efficiently.
Statistics show that companies with a higher level of employee engagement are able to increase sales of their products and services by more than 50%. There are many reasons why it is always a good idea to invest in the well-being of everyone who works in a company or organization.
First of all… What is occupational wellness?
Workplace wellness refers to health-promoting activities or policies that positively support employee behavior. Did you know that an employee feels recognized when the company takes an interest in his or her personal life? That’s right, beyond the economic factor and a salary improvement, employees appreciate the understanding, interest and support that the company and leader establish towards the employee’s personal life. That is why health improvements, for example, medical exams and education fairs, to fitness programs and health care memberships, are just some of the options that a company can implement and that undoubtedly make a difference.
As we mentioned earlier, there are many ways in which companies can foster a culture of wellness and good health. Among them, it is worth mentioning:
- Healthy employees tend to absorb less exorbitant health care costs.
- Well-groomed employees face fewer traffic accidents. Since, they do not suffer from stress, sleep deprivation or excessive exhaustion.
- When employees are healthier, they are less likely to take sick breaks.
- Talent acquisition and retention remains strong when employees are happy to work for a supportive company.
Remember…
Workplace wellness goes far beyond minimizing health problems and related absences. The World Health Organization considers well-being at work to be “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Thus, it encompasses all areas of work life. Promoting well-being at work can help create a positive work environment by minimizing stress levels, improving employee satisfaction and engagement, and ultimately helping employees thrive at work. We believe that a happy and healthy workforce is essential to building a successful business. Taking the necessary steps to support this can be hard work, but ultimately rewarding, and not all employers can afford the high costs of private health insurance.
More than two-thirds of employees in a company have experienced a health problem, long-term condition or disability. So, the reality is that for the average company, a significant proportion of its workforce is likely to be affected by some form of occupational health and wellness issue. This means that, employees do not always feel comfortable enough to disclose their health and wellness issues.
Workplace wellness should be seen as an investment for companies…
On the other hand, there are ways to improve workplace wellness in a short time. Here’s how:
Importantly, all impactful workplace wellness programs are embedded in a company culture that supports and encourages healthy lifestyles and lifestyle choices for its employees. However, this culture will struggle to develop without the support of the executive leadership team. A company’s leaders must “walk the talk” when it comes to health and wellness.
That is why, a company’s leaders must know the anticipated return on investment of a wellness program. In addition to the elements that will generate positive health changes in the employee population.
And it is quite productive to offer opportunities for professional growth and development. For employees, in general, it is of great importance to join companies that provide them with opportunities for personal and professional growth; they see meaning in their work and also find a sense of future in them.
As a leader, we recommend that you develop training plans and include them in the company’s activities, actions that promote labor welfare. At the same time, promote learning in the teams so that they become great professionals, thus taking advantage of their maximum potential for the identification of new opportunities and the achievement of business objectives.
“If coaching is the water for someone to become a champion, ChVmpion Mind is the structure for the champion to drink that water in the right way”.
José L. Meléndez CEO of ChVmpion Mind
Importance of well-being at work
Here are 3 reasons that help explain the importance…
Happier, healthier employees take less sick leave
It was revealed that one in three people consider their job to be the most stressful factor in their lives, even more so than debt and financial problems. Stress not only affects humans psychologically, but also plays a role in our physical health. Prolonged periods of anxiety and worry can increase the likelihood that someone will engage in risky behaviors, such as smoking, dangerous driving and excessive drinking. Also, it can cause fatigue, make it difficult to concentrate, and lead to high blood pressure and diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Workplace wellness will enable your employees to be in a better condition to show up for work each day. Therefore, they will take less leave and productivity will be higher.
Highly motivated teams perform better
Lack of autonomy, caused by micromanagement and failure to properly utilize the skills of your employees, is at the root of much employee dissatisfaction. Therefore, combating these states can motivate you to positively increase employee well-being. And it will encourage a more eloquent and focused team performance in work activities.
Keeping staff longer and attracting top talent.
A company culture that fosters good mental health by putting employee happiness at the center of everything you do, rather than focusing solely on the bottom line, fosters loyalty. Your team members will be satisfied with their roles and less inclined to seek new opportunities elsewhere. Which, will help reduce hiring costs and retain a high-quality workforce. And if morale is high, they will be able to overcome any challenging situations that come their way. Workplace wellness should be a priority for your organization.
How to design a workplace wellness program?
Take stock of where your company stands.
Before starting a new workplace wellness program, it’s a good idea to evaluate the benefits you already offer. Organizations are often more advanced than they realize when it comes to wellness. Leveraging existing conditions is easier than starting from scratch; also, it can help improve program participation rates.
Form an Internal Committee
Whether you’re starting from scratch or building your workplace wellness plan on existing initiatives, it’s important to gather information from across the company. As you get started establish a “wellness” committee to discuss program goals, brainstorm ideas for initiatives and develop a timeline for implementation.
Remember your brand personality
A diverse committee is important. For, there is no one-size-fits-all workplace wellness program. The program needs to feel grassroots, not off-the-shelf. It has to feel like it comes from within. Don’t go for the shiny new object just because it looks cool and seems modern. What really works for your organization doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for someone else, and vice versa. Customize your program to your employees.
Define success
The final key to a successful workplace wellness program is defining what success looks like from the outset. Every company approaches wellness from a different point of view. But, at the end of the day, the CFO and business owners still want a return on their investment.
5 feasible steps or strategies to promote well-being in the workplace in a company.
These are 5 simple steps that, when applied, will help to increase the well-being at work in your company almost immediately. Keep reading!
Apply and implement a business coaching program:
Business coaching has recently become fashionable. However, it is a science that has been developing for years within companies that have a comprehensive vision of what is true productivity and well-being at work. From this idea, nothing ChVmpion Mind, from the hand of professionals whose trajectory is indisputable.
It is a platform that offers all the benefits of a traditional business coaching process, all in one place and online, but with the advantage of not having to pay a coach.
Understand your population
An effective workplace wellness program takes into account the demographics and health risk data of the company’s population, including employees, spouses and dependents. This information should be used to customize the wellness program and engage people in the initiative. By using this insight strategically, you will be able to foster greater interest, excitement and sustainable participation in the workplace wellness program.
At the same time, it is the ideal way to promote healthy habits; a good workplace wellness plan makes sure to provide tools for staff to improve their habits inside and outside the company. For example, a simple way to promote regular physical exercise is to organize group activities outside working hours. Similarly, to encourage healthy eating, vending machines for packaged products can be replaced by those offering healthy products or fresh fruit. Finally, to promote stress management, there are interesting initiatives that include workshops on yoga, meditation, mindfulness or time management, among others.
Focus on employee behavior change.
For your business coaching and workplace wellness program to be compelling to participants, you must focus on elements that will naturally encourage behavior change for all workers. Make sure the program is convenient for people to learn, leverage and use. Also, it is important that you strategize in a collaborative and motivational model. The program should provide flexible options that allow people to choose methods that work for their lifestyle. This customizable approach will help foster intrinsic motivation and inspiration.
In addition, adapting a work environment to one that is more pleasant and friendly is paramount to achieving work wellness. Remember, the office is where employees will spend a good part of their workday. Therefore, implementing adequate biosecurity measures, having good lighting, providing ergonomic furniture and ensuring small breaks for disconnection will make this space a healthy, safe and pleasant environment to develop creativity and increase productivity.
Communicate and incentivize
A workplace wellness program without participants is a wasted effort. To effectively promote the program to all your employees; you can use a variety of participation access points, including websites, printed materials and mobile apps. Also, if budget allows, consider developing an incentive structure that resonates with people. Be intentional about promoting these rewards and ensure they are attractive and worth the investment required to achieve them.
Then communicate effectively with the team, as it is important that staff feel heard, so that their requests or needs are understood. This will increase their satisfaction and, therefore, improve the work environment and well-being. It is also recommended to establish honest and open communication channels where employees feel comfortable and safe to communicate their thoughts and initiatives. This motivates people to add better ideas, be more efficient and better able to cope with everyday situations.
Evaluate and modify
Companies focused on achieving workplace wellness should continually review and evaluate their business coaching and wellness program with a critical eye. On a regular basis, it is important to monitor progress and the fulfillment of personal objectives and professional goals that have been previously defined. To do this, it is important to schedule a wellness team meeting to discuss areas for improvement and modifications that will help keep the program fresh and on track. While constant evaluation is important, keep in mind that with a traditional coaching program it will be at least a year before you see indicators of success.
ChVmpion Mind, offers you to get these results as early as week 21. From then on, you will be able to start measuring the return on your investment in a quantitative way. That is, with numbers that translate into profits.
Finally, by following these five tips, your company will be able to transform its wellness program into a strategic tool that has the power to contain healthcare costs, improve productivity and strengthen employee health. Will the positive impact of my wellness program reinforce the value of this ongoing investment? The answer is a resounding yes.
Workplace wellness in remote work
Working from home can bring with it many benefits, from increased productivity to improvements in flexibility. However, it can be an isolating and even lonely experience, especially if you’re new to it. So how can you take care of your work wellness when you work from home? How can you create healthy boundaries between your work and personal life and stay mentally and physically healthy to be a productive and effective worker? Here, some tips to help you take care of your health and well-being while working remotely….
- Maintain a regular routine. Human beings are creatures of habit. Therefore, it is important to have a regular schedule. Establish one and stick to it to improve your well-being at work.
- Create a comfortable, clutter-free workspace. You can create a dedicated workspace, this will undoubtedly improve your work wellbeing.
- Be a home-based worker, not a lone worker.
- Whenever possible, communicate with your colleagues, through video chats. Face-to-face conversations help you feel more connected.
- Maintain physical health
- Practice exercises to reduce stress levels and improve your attention span.
Self-care when working from home is vital to maintaining work wellness. By setting healthy boundaries and prioritizing mental and physical well-being, you’ll avoid falling into bad habits and instead remain productive and motivated. You may even feel happier and healthier.
