What Benefits of Employee Wellness Should be Prioritized?

Blog | February 4, 2021 | 4 minutes read

In times of a pandemic, employee wellness should be the top priority for every organization. This is especially true for frontline workers.

Workplace wellness is defined as any program intended to improve and promote employee health and fitness. Nowadays, that includes mental and financial health.

After all, people work best when they’re not stressed or struggling with their own medical issues.

Here’s why to focus on your employees, and what kinds of wellness benefits you should offer.

Why Prioritize Employee Wellness

Over 75% of employers offer some kind of wellness program to their employees, and for good reason.

Not only does it help with recruiting and higher retention, but you’re improving your own company’s productivity. If your employees are unhappy, miserable, and stressed, then it only makes sense that their work will suffer.

Employee wellness programs, specifically fitness and health programs, also reduce health costs in the long run. One such example is Johnson & Johnson’s program that saved a total of $38 million in its first four years.

When the people who work for your company are happy and healthy, you see much higher engagement. They’re also going to be much happier in their jobs, which can only benefit the business.

Fitness Centers

One of the best wellness benefits for employees is access to a fitness center of some kind, usually at their worksite.

This is especially important for office positions, where most of your employee’s time is going to be spent at a desk. The ability to get in a good workout before work, or even during a lunch break, could be the very thing that helps keep them energized throughout the day.

Fitness programs, in general, will also keep your employees happy and healthy. Numerous studies show that sitting in a chair for an extended amount of time is bad for your circulation, your posture, and much more.

Offering even as little as an opportunity to do group yoga in the break room can go a long way.

Mindfulness Programs

Employee mental health is just as important as their physical health. Over 75% of employees in the U.S. experience burnout at work.

There’s been a rise in anxiety recently due to the state of the world, as well as job uncertainty. People are either out of jobs, working from home away from their colleagues, or putting their lives on the line to get a paycheck.

Focusing on your employee’s mental wellness should be an essential part of your wellness benefits.

You should experiment with a range of mental health approaches, such as mental health advocacy and mindfulness training programs. An example of a mindfulness program could be group meditation or using a mindfulness app, such as Headspace.

Flexible Work Arrangements

As 2020 ran its course, employers and organizations around the world were forced to deal with the issue of providing a safe workplace. When an employee could accidentally infect an entire office, many businesses turned to remote work.

Now, there’s a lot more talk about how feasible alternative work arrangements are moving forward. Google has plans to keep employees working remotely if they so choose.

Moreover, studies have shown that people with the ability to choose their own schedules had better mental health, blood pressure, and sleep habits.

It may not be possible for a lot of industries to let employees work from home at their own pace, but it should at least be an option for anyone dealing with a lot of stress or personal issues.

Team-Building Activities

Team-building activities are a great way to improve employee wellness and develop camaraderie among your employees.

Some businesses live by the motto of separating work life from home life, but working with people you know and like does wonders for your mental health. Additionally, you can use these activities as a way of fostering leadership qualities in your employees.

A true leader knows his team and can be vulnerable around them. They also know the value of each member and can call upon them for any task. It’s also a great way for the manager to connect with his team and learn more about their lives and their struggles.

Financial Wellness Benefits

As an owner or manager, the financials of your business are your main focus, but you can’t ignore the financial wellness of your employees. Helping them manage their finances can be low-cost and lower their overall stress.

As you know by now, more stress and anxiety negatively affect productivity. A 2017 study from PwC showed that 22% of employees admitted that financial worries impacted their work, and some even had to miss because of them.

Money problems can also cause health problems, especially if they can’t afford the hospital in an emergency or if the stress leads to high blood pressure.

Financial wellness programs can take the form of Earned Wage Access, offering paid sick leave, or even financial goal setting. Whatever you can do to alleviate your employees’ financial burdens can go a long way.

Take Care of Your Workers

If you care about your employees, then managing their wellness benefits should be on the top of your to-do list. To make it easier, consider investing in a financial wellness platform.

Payactiv lets workers access what they’ve earned, avoid loans and fees, and save for their expenses. It even works for employees who don’t have a bank account.