10 worksite wellness programs for a healthy workplace

As more companies realize that their employees’ personal lives and professional performance are intertwined, they are taking more steps to prioritize employee wellness.

One of the efforts that companies can enact are worksite wellness programs. Also called employee well-being programs, corporate wellness programs, or employee wellness programs in Canada, these are initiatives within an organization that promote healthy lifestyles among employees.

What are workplace wellness programs? What are the benefits of these programs? What workplace wellness initiatives can you enact in your own organization? Benefits and Pensions Monitor will provide insight into these questions and more in this article.

Introduction to worksite wellness programs

Worksite wellness programs are company initiatives designed to support employees’ health. Such initiatives can also encourage and foster a culture of good health among employees. There are at least two major categories that these programs fall under:

Lifestyle wellness programs

This includes activities that can reduce health risks and the development of chronic conditions via healthy lifestyle and behavioural changes. The list of lifestyle wellness programs includes:

• exercise
• ample sleep
• stress management
• ergonomic training

This is all about getting the greatest number of employees to make healthy choices and have healthy habits they can practice regularly. Here’s an example right out of our company, Key Media!

Disease management wellness programs

This consists of programs that are structured treatment plans. Disease management programs are meant to help people manage chronic diseases better (if they have any) and maintain and improve their quality of life.

Companies can enlist the services of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians to educate participants continuously about how to better manage their conditions. Under this program, the company may use more patient-directed programs that include counseling, home visits, call centre services, and appointment reminder systems for employees with chronic conditions. My manager recently had an ergonomic specialist drop by to help with chronic neck pain, as an example.

10 workplace wellness programs your company can try

What sort of programs are there that HR professionals can leverage to improve or maintain employee wellness? Here are some examples:

1. Flexible work schedules

A flexible work schedule, as opposed to the usual fixed 9 to 5, can be a key aspect of a wellness program that caters to the diverse needs of today’s workforce. With flexible working hours, the company acknowledges the delicate but critical work/life balance that can impact employees’ mental health.

This setup empowers employees to manage their responsibilities effectively, resulting in increased engagement and a more harmonious workplace environment. When paired with work-from-home arrangements, some employees may even be willing to work for lower salaries. Flexible work and work-from-home setups increase employee wellness and ease wage-growth pressure. 

2. Financial wellness programs

With the rising costs of basic goods due to erratic inflation, workers appreciate it when their employers provide them with financial wellness programs to ease the pressure. Tools for financial management, retirement planning or making additional savings can empower employees to make sound financial decisions.

A comprehensive financial wellness program can give employees the support they need but may not have access to or know where to get it. But by offering these programs, employees can navigate financial challenges better, which translates into reduced financial stress-related absenteeism. And by giving employees the facilities to set financial goals, they can have better job satisfaction at the company, reducing turnover rates.

3. Quit-smoking programs

This is a proactive wellness program that tackles one of society’s biggest health problems. By giving comprehensive support and incentivizing employees’ participation in smoking cessation programs, this makes for a healthier workplace, workforce, and less health-related costs for the company.

Companies that promote a smoke-free environment and help their employees quit smoking show their commitment to their workers’ well-being. This program can positively impact both their workers’ physical and mental health.

4. Regular check-ins

Making regular check-ins with employees’ mental health is essential to proactively assessing and enhancing employee well-being. Employee engagement surveys used during these check-ins create continuous feedback loops. Used as a feedback mechanism, these surveys can help identify potential issues and foster and reinforce a culture of open communication and support.

There is also, of course, the very important step of simply asking employees how they are doing at regularly scheduled meetings. This should be an initiative taken on by all levels of management.
 

5. Fitness centres on-site

A fitness centre that is located within or close to the worksite is a tangible means of promoting physical fitness and physical activity among employees. Encouraging use of the fitness centre via incentive programs can greatly increase participation.

The existence of an on-site fitness centre or gym also underscores the organization's commitment to their employees’ health. This can boost morale and camaraderie among employees.

6. Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Having an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is crucial in supporting employees' emotional well-being. The counseling services and mentorship programs EAPs offer ensure that employees receive a comprehensive approach to mental health support. To evaluate the EAP’s effectiveness, periodic surveys are conducted.

These surveys also signal to workers that the company is dedicated to creating a supportive environment. With an EAP, employees will see and feel that the company helps them tackle emotional challenges, which enhances overall job satisfaction and improves productivity.

7. Company health checkups

Regular health checkups or health screenings and biometric assessments are important to assess and manage employees’ overall health. Providing information on health risk assessments helps in customizing wellness plans for individual employees.

This proactive approach can be useful in finding potential health issues. Additionally, implementing targeted interventions and fostering a culture of preventive health measures effectively reduces healthcare costs and increases employee wellness.

8. Team-building activities

These activities are helpful in fostering social well-being among employees. Having physical exercises or wellness challenges in these events make health-conscious practices part of the workplace culture.

Team-building activities can strengthen team bonds and promote a shared commitment to well-being.

HR staff can gauge the effectiveness of these initiatives, ensuring that team-building events contribute positively to both the social fabric and overall job satisfaction within the organization.

9. Healthy food at the workplace

Ensuring that healthy food can be had at the workplace is a critical part of enhancing employee wellness. With this workplace program, companies positively impact their employees’ physical health and mental well-being. Providing workers with an easily accessible, well-balanced diet can provide them with sustained energy levels, good cognitive function, and overall vitality throughout their day.

This wellness initiative can literally create a healthy, supportive environment that reduces health-related issues, reinforcing a culture of well-being and mindfulness. Healthy food choices align with holistic employee wellness, so this program fosters an energetic, positive workplace. This can be done with either a well-stocked fridge in the employee lounge or kitchen area, or with catered lunches on a weekly or even daily cadence.

10. Commuting initiatives

Long, difficult or dreary commutes can impact employee wellness daily. With a workplace commuting initiative, your company can substantially enhance employee wellness by reducing its mental and physical toll.

Flexible schedules, offering incentives for public transport or alternative transportation, or providing the transportation can positively impact employee wellness. Here are some other possible commuting initiatives:

• offer a transit program that reimburses employees for taking public transport
• offer secure bike parking
• offer a cash incentive for employees who buy a bike for their work commute

Such programs can not only contribute to improved mental well-being but also encourage physical activity, reducing health risks. A well-planned, well-thought-of commuting initiative can show that your company is committed to employees’ work/life balance. This can also increase job satisfaction and overall health.

The last point here is one which every HR manager needs to hear and listen to: the best commute is no commute. Every opportunity there is for an employee to not have to commute to work should be taken. It’s the absolute easiest way to help employee morale and boost wellness. Companies that ignore this are losing talent to companies that don’t. Which company do you want to be?

If upper management are hesitant to implement any of these programs due to cost concerns, remember that they don’t have to be deployed all at once. Even small-scale wellness programs can pay off big, as evidenced by this video from a company in Austin:

Why is employee wellness important for a company?

Employee wellness is essential to create a flourishing workplace. Implementing a comprehensive wellness program is proof to employees that their company is committed to workers’ health and happiness.

Employee wellness often results in greater productivity and workplace satisfaction, which translates into organizational success. When implemented correctly, an employee wellness program can be a win-win scenario for both employers and employees.

Here are some benefits of prioritizing employee wellness:

Increased job satisfaction and employee engagement

Employees who know and feel that their well-being is prioritized by their employer are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. In turn, this satisfaction promotes higher levels of engagement and enjoyment.

Creates a positive work culture

As employees are the core of your business, they contribute to the workplace culture. Employee burnout can be reduced or increased by workplace culture, whether positive or negative. But through properly implemented wellness programs, employee satisfaction increases and creates a positive atmosphere in the workplace.

Creates a healthy work environment

Comprehensive health and wellness programs promote a healthier work environment, encouraging employees to adopt healthier lifestyles. This makes it conducive for employees to collectively commit to improving their well-being, resulting in a strong health culture within the organization.

Employees’ mental health is supported

Workplace stress is increasingly prevalent, so offering mental health support via these wellness programs is critical. Any organization that prioritizes their worker’s mental well-being heightens employee satisfaction and can reduce work-related stress and burnout.

If you're looking for support, find out what benefits peer support workers bring to the workplace in this article.

Employees feel valued

When companies make the health and wellness of their employees a priority, they send the message that they’re dedicated to workplace safety and risk reduction. This in turn makes employees feel that they are supported and valued in the workplace.

High job satisfaction and employee engagement

Employees who see and feel that the company prioritizes their well-being are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. A high level of job satisfaction results in higher levels of employee engagement and enjoyment.

Social cohesion and increased morale

Wellness programs provide a common goal for the workforce, which can create a sense of unity and shared sense of wellness. Shared activities that promote wellness in the workplace can build and reinforce camaraderie, thus improving workplace relationships and boosting morale.

How to encourage participation in worksite wellness programs

Your organization can offer some of the most popular benefits in your respective industry and have these wellness programs in place, but your efforts can be all for naught if few to no employees participate.

How do you ensure that employees participate in the wellness programs at your worksite?

The main strategy is to use effective communication. Each worksite wellness program should have or be part of a comprehensive communications plan to highlight each program and showcase their benefits to employees. Other ways to encourage participation include:

• customizing programs to fit individual employees
• conducting surveys to know employees’ preferences
• fostering a workplace culture that values wellness and employee well-being
• offering incentives like special rewards and giving recognition to participants
• providing flexibility in schedules of these programs

There is little doubt that workplace wellness programs can provide many great benefits to both employees and the employer. But remember, your organization can have some of the most sought-after benefits and wellness programs, but without informing employees, they can go to waste.

The key is to offer programs that cater to employees’ needs and conduct surveys to know which programs employees prefer and will use. Deploying these programs while explaining their benefits, and how to participate in these programs are equally important; the HR department should leverage the company’s internal communications department when these programs are rolled out.

In Canada, worksite wellness programs suffer from a low turnout, so having a communications program is crucial to employee participation. Workplace wellness programs hold many benefits for your organization. As employees lower their health risks and experience higher job satisfaction, the company sees lower absenteeism, less healthcare costs, lower turnover rates, and not only greater productivity, but better-quality productivity.

Using these employee incentive programs is a great way to motivate employees, enhance productivity, and reduce turnover.

Does your company have worksite wellness programs? If not, what’s preventing your company from having one? Let us know in the comments