4 Ways To Improve Your Employee Wellness Program
15 January 2024
COVID-19 has changed so much about how people live and work. For sure, even after a vaccine is made available, people will continue to take extra precautions and be mindful of their health.
Now, more than ever, wellness programs play a significant role in employee engagement and retention. The onus is on companies to make it easier and more affordable for employees to access the care they need and stay healthy.
We have listed down 4 things you can add to your employee wellness program. Building a program that meets your workforce’s future needs will be a valuable and attractive benefit today and in the years to come.3
3 pm office stretches
Sitting for 8 hours in front of a computer, with only water or bathroom breaks as an opportunity to walk around, can impose more physical health risks than we expect.
Help employees have regular exercise by holding 15-minute stretching activities daily. Assign a team to lead and play fun music. This activity will not only loosen up one’s muscles but also give employees a productivity boost. And it can be done remotely or in the office!
You can take this a notch higher by providing benefits like gym memberships or annual sports fests.
Mental health benefits
More often than not, employee wellness programs tend to focus more on physical health. However, the pandemic has increased awareness of the importance of mental health. Groups of psychologists start to offer online mental health support and consultations to help affected individuals cope during this difficult time.
Mental health in the workplace has been overlooked for such a long time. As an employer, you have the power to change that. Providing access to mental health benefits goes to show that your company has a culture of understanding. Here are some ideas you may want to include in your program:
- Mental health assessment
- 24/7 helpline
- Workplace coaching
- Stress management resource materials
- Resiliency training
- Financial literacy education
- Mindfulness meetings
- Mental health insurance coverage
Food and supplement allowance
People are guilty of putting their health on the backburner to be able to juggle work and social life. However, after the pandemic, eating nutritious food and maintaining good health will make it to everyone’s list of priorities. Another thing you can do to improve your employee wellness program is to make sure they get this.
Through our customizable GCs, employers can handpick merchants where the gift certificate is valid. Pluxee has partnered with drug stores, healthy restaurants, and all-natural products stores to make customization possible. Check out our Merchant Locator for the complete list of merchants.
Community service
One of the most effective ways to improve a person’s wellbeing is by being useful to others. Participating in volunteer activities can engage employees and develop their sense of fulfillment. This will also reinforce your company values and fuel a positive social mindset.
Community service activities might be a little challenging to organize. But there are a lot of non-profit organizations you can partner with for the cause your company supports. Clothing drives, blood drives, adopt-a-pet events, fundraisers, and sponsorships are just few of the activities you can do as a team.