4 Key Elements of Well-Being Programs

The Happiness Factor. Economists at the University of Warwick found that employee happiness is in fact directly correlated with business productivity. Workers who responded that they are happy saw a 12 percent increase in productivity compared with those who were unhappy.

To bolster the happiness factor, businesses are prioritizing employee well-being by offering programs to stay physically fit, mentally healthy, socially stimulated and financially educated. There are four key elements to a comprehensive approach to employee well-being: physical, psychological, social and financial.

Physical Wellness should be one of the most straightforward issues to address. Prevention is better than treatment and less costly in the long term. Insurance and medical costs have a huge impact on corporate balance sheets, both when providing coverage plans and when dealing with lost productivity from sick days. Health insurance premiums have doubled in the US between 2001 and 2011. By making healthy choices easy, accessible and affordable in the workplace, employers can help promote behavior change. Consider offering free fruit at work, providing fitness incentives like cycle-to-work schemes, or contributing towards employee health care insurance packages.

Psychological Wellness starts with opening the conversation around mental health issues, particularly among millennials. Depression is the world’s leading disability, with approximately 300 million sufferers costing US businesses about $210 billion annually. Employers can address mental health challenges by training managers to spot early warning signs of depression, to identify opportunities for support and to direct employees to professional help services. An emotional health strategy that raises awareness, reduces stigma, fosters a trusting climate, and boosts participation in mental and emotional well-being programs can lead to a healthy workplace environment.

Social Wellness is fostered by ensuring workers are satisfied with the individuals they are working with. According to a 2012 Gallup poll, 50 percent of employees reported a stronger connection with their employer when they had a best friend at work. Team building exercises, outings and casual get togethers can create social bonds in the workplace. Emphasis on work-life balance can also lead to socialization among employees. Offering employees flexible schedules, telecommuting from home and increasing face time when in the office can help employees become more engaged with co-workers, their communities and family.

Financial Wellness and security can relieve employee stress. Money troubles often go beyond an individual’s actual compensation. Employers can offer advice on retirement, long-term financial planning, auto-enrollment savings plans and managing personal expenses. With 52 percent of employees reporting that their financial situation contributes to stress at work, employers should factor financial wellness into an overall corporate wellness program.

Wellness Workdays helps organizations across the country develop comprehensive well-being programs that address these four key areas. Contact us to find out how we can help you improve the health and well-being of your employees.

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