From on-site gyms to free snacks to flexible time off, employers are incorporating employee wellness programs in a variety of ways. Employers may think that the flashier their employee benefit programs, the more likely they are to attract and retain talent. However, these programs don’t necessarily have to be fancy or expensive to be effective.
The idea of employee health initiatives is to benefit not only the employee’s health but also the employer. Healthy employees are less likely to miss work due to the flu or other illnesses, meaning they’ll miss less time from work and their employers will have to pay less for medical expenses.
Check out five alternatives to monthly employee health check-ins that increase employee engagement, happiness, and retention.
1. Employee health issues
Wellness challenges have been common in wellness programs for decades. Challenges are a great team-building activity where employees can earn points for activities they complete together.
Instead of traditional weight loss challenges, we’re seeing a more modern approach to wellness challenges these days. A sleep challenge is in place and employees are encouraged to practice good sleep hygiene, aiming for his 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. The water intake challenge encourages the employee to drink her recommended daily intake of water.
Wellness challenges are a great way to gamify wellbeing and encourage your employees to improve their physical and mental health while getting to know your colleagues in a fun and engaging way.
2. Community participation
According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering releases dopamine, which reduces stress and increases relaxation, leading to lower rates of depression and anxiety. Employers encourage company-wide volunteer programs where employees choose the organizations they support. If a company-wide program isn’t an option for your organization, allowing your employees to dedicate a few hours each month to volunteering for causes close to their hearts can be just as effective.
An added benefit of community participation is that employees become involved in the community, which can also lead to increased engagement at work.
3. On-site yoga
We’ve all heard of the “3 o’clock work slump,” but what about the “3 o’clock downward dog”? Yoga is a mood-boosting and low-impact health benefit. Due to its advantages, it is becoming more and more popular. Verywell Mind states that yoga is a great stress antidote. We teach basic meditation techniques and increase relaxation through Savasana (corpse pose).
By hiring an on-site yoga instructor, employees can take a positive break from work, feel full of energy, and use their newly learned breathing techniques to reduce stress for the rest of the day. Ready to work on. If you don’t have the budget for a local instructor, an empty room with a few yoga mats and access to an online yoga instructor is also a great option.
4. Financial Wellness Program
It can feel like the financial stress is really on the shoulders of employees. That’s something everyone emphasizes at least once. Being proactive about your financial education can save you a lot of headaches and worries down the road. Employers are beginning to implement financial education programs to support employees who are experiencing financial hardship or who want to stay ahead of the curve.
Most employees receive a basic 401K education walkthrough, but employers can build trust with their employees by providing them with education that goes beyond this. Educational sessions may include topics such as budgeting, investing, and retirement planning. It’s important for employers to keep in mind that employees are at different ages and stages of life, and tailor their programs to cover them all.
5. Themed Wellness Day
Themed wellness days are a fun and engaging way for employers to encourage employees to stay healthy and mindful. These themed days not only promote employee health, but also provide great encouragement for employees to enjoy their in-person workday.
‘Meditation Monday’ is a great way to improve your employees’ wellbeing by having a dedicated 15-minute meditation session every Monday. “Fit Fridays” can encourage employees to climb the stairs and compete for the most steps that day. Themed wellness days increase engagement and wellness, giving employees an extra boost to get through the workday.
Healthy, engaged employees are more likely to stay
Employee health programs don’t have to be expensive for employers or burdensome for employees. As workplaces continue to evolve with hybrid work models and increased awareness of mental health, employee wellness programs will continue to evolve as well. Giving employees a say in the programs they want increases the success rate of wellness initiatives and improves job satisfaction. Look for programs that promote engagement while promoting mental and physical health.
