Human Capital: The Value of a Focus on Wellness at Work
In today’s fast-paced work environment, wellness has become critical to creating a healthy and thriving workforce. Organizations that prioritize the well-being of their employees benefit from higher levels of engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction.
Workplace wellness includes an interrelated set of areas: mental health, spiritual health, financial health, and physical health. Improving physical, financial, or spiritual health impacts mental health positively and vice versa.
Exploring these areas helps leaders and human capital officers plan strategic initiatives for their organization:
Mental health involves employees who are dealing with stress, anxiety, or other mental health issues can negatively impact their job performance and overall well-being
Spiritual health involves employees who want to feel a sense of purpose or connection to something greater than themselves are often more engaged, more motivated, and stay longer
Financial health helps employees struggling with financial stress that may have a hard time focusing on their work or feel anxious about their future
Physical health is often the most common focus area in the workplace, and by promoting wellness, employers can help reduce absenteeism, improve productivity, and enhance overall employee well-being
Establishing and encouraging wellness programs in the workplace can be simple and cost-effective.
Start by leveraging existing benefits offered to employees. Many health insurance benefits come with existing wellness programs. Educate employees on the benefits they have access to. For example, an increasingly common benefit is an employee assistance program (EAP) that
provides employees access to a wide range of free resources, from counseling to financial advisory resources to assistance finding child and elder care. These programs also include other resources and training to help employees.
Organizations can also demonstrate a commitment to employee wellness, including opportunities for flexible work schedules, hosting open communication forums, and providing access to meet with leaders and mentoring programs.
Workplace wellness programs can help foster a sense of community and belonging among employees. By providing opportunities for employees to socialize, engage in team-building activities, and participate in wellness challenges, employees feel more connected to their coworkers and their workplace. To encourage employee participation in wellness events, try using gamification to encourage friendly competition or reward healthy habits to reinforce the importance of wellness.
Foster a culture of wellness by making it a priority in your workplace. Encourage employees to take breaks, practice self-care, and prioritize their health. Companies can help create a more balanced and fulfilled workforce by supporting the whole employee.
When organizations support the whole employee, employees are often more engaged and productive. They are also more likely to stay longer, reducing turnover and related costs and strengthening the culture within your organization.
