Employee wellness is of utmost importance to building a healthy work environment. Employees that feel valued by their employers can positively influence work output. For potential employees, finding a company that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of their staff is essential. People want to feel appreciated by their employers, especially during a health crisis like Covid. When employees are healthy, not only do they feel better physically, but they’re more productive and tend to take fewer sick days. One way to ensure the wellness of employees is to initiate health challenges, focusing on both physical and mental health.
Why Employee Wellbeing Is Important
While keeping your staff as healthy as possible can reduce the cost of medical care, employee health affects more than just medical costs. Many workers spend hours stagnant at a desk, which can be detrimental to their health. The purpose of creating health and wellness challenges is to encourage healthier lifestyle behaviors.
Workplace wellness challenges contribute to a more positive and predictive work environment. With health programs, they help build a sense of community for employees and can spark a culture of wellness. Employees are more likely to be performing well when they are in optimal health.
Having people work towards a common goal creates a sense of unity and belonging. If employers take care of employees’ mental and physical health now, companies may save a lot in health care costs down the line. Keeping employees engaged in different activities apart from work can help beat stress effectively and prevent burnout.
Benefits Of Workplace Wellness
There are a plethora of benefits for ensuring a healthy work environment for employees. Some strategies to encourage workplace wellness don’t need to cost the company a lot of money or require only on-site employees. There are simple workplace wellness programs that enhance the entire company and workforce. Some of the significant benefits are:
- Better work performance and productivity
- Self-improvement
- Better overall mental and physical health
- Improves work relations
- Promotes teamwork and cooperation within the workplace
- Helps reduce team conflicts
- Lowers stress
- Increases morale
- Reduces the level of health risks
- Boosts job satisfaction
- Reduce absenteeism
- Improves workplace retention
- Attracts quality employees
Health challenges in the workplace are compelling because it brings employees together. Making any lifestyle changes can be much more difficult when doing it alone, and it’s easier for employees to encourage each other if they’re going through it together. A wellness challenge should focus on a genuine desire for improved health, quality of life, and work-life balance.
How To Promote Employee Wellbeing
Anyone within the organization can create health and wellness challenges. Encourage employees for their input, what areas of their life they would like to improve, and what kind of activities they would benefit from and enjoy. It should be designed to reward effort and make it achievable for as many employees to succeed as possible. Participation should be voluntary and not reprimanded if they choose not to join.
The results of the challenges and programs should be private. Delegate a single employee to track the progress or check-ins but offer support from leadership and management. The health challenges should be inclusive and accessible to all employees. Keep in mind how many participants work onsite or remote. The parameters, requirements, objectives, and rewards should be known to all participants.
At Alltrust, we understand the importance of health and wellness within the workplace and have partnered with eMindful. Our employees and clients can receive the full benefits of incorporating mindfulness into their everyday lives. eMindful is an online resource that provides expert guidance to help keep them accountable. Mindfulness means focusing on the present moment without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can improve wellbeing and mental health.
Health And Wellness Strategies
The duration can be customizable for any of these activities, but consistency produces the best results. Check-ins and tracking can be daily, weekly, or monthly. Make sure employees consult with their doctor before participating in any physical activities.
Here are several activities that engage employees in becoming happier, healthier, and more energetic at work and home. These can be completed as small daily tasks or month-long challenges.
Physical Health Challenges
- Weight loss, body fat loss, inches loss
- Smoking cessation
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Completing 10,000 steps a day
- Exercise 30 minutes a day
- Complete an annual physical
- Track water intake
- Push up/plank/sit-up challenge
- Walking up and down stairs instead of taking the elevator
- Tracking 7 hours of sleep or more
Group Activities
- Carpooling to work
- Contributing to workplace compost bins
- Charity walkathon
- Sharing healthy meal recipes
- Read books or start a book club
- Nutrition workshops
Mental Health
- Yoga classes
- Group meditations
- Regular menthol health check-ins
- Mindfulness sessions
- Express gratitude daily such as through a gratitude journal
A few prizes or incentives for participation can be monetary, paid time off, free lunch with the boss, or bringing your pet to work for a day. Whatever the activity, program, or challenge may be, they should be designed to inspire healthy lifestyle choices among employees and help them achieve their goals. People have different needs, and providing various types of wellness activities and challenges allows all participating employees to benefit. Both onsite and remote employees should be able to have the option to participate. A focus on physical and mental health should be taken into account when considering employee wellbeing.
Workplace Wellness With Alltrust
Workplace wellness is a health promotional activity that is designed for the sole purpose of encouraging healthy behavior amongst employees. Any employee should be able to find fulfillment within their work environment. Offering health and wellness challenges can show employees that their employer cares about their wellbeing. These activities can help reduce anxiety, stress, loneliness, and depression.
At Alltrust, we understand the importance of employee wellness, and we can help design programs to suit the needs of your company and staff. Health and wellness are personal pursuits, but employers can encourage and support their employees on their journey. Contact us today to learn how we can keep your company healthy.
