Key steps for implementing a corporate wellness program
It’s becoming more common for people to put their job before their health, such as by staying up late to complete tasks, skipping lunch, or even showing up to work when they are sick and should be resting. While this approach to work is often considered admirable by society’s standards, it’s also a recipe for disaster. Personal health should always come first. Along with improving quality of life, being mentally and physically healthy also helps a person excel at work.
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Companies that understand this offer employee wellness programs, which provide a range of benefits and activities that promote wellbeing and health. In this Pacific Prime article, we look at the key steps for implementing a wellness program in the workplace.
Conduct a survey
The best corporate wellness plans are based on the needs of employees. In order to find out what those actual needs are, employers can create and conduct a workplace survey. Get detailed information by presenting several wellness ideas for perks and see which ones gain the most interest. Some budget-friendly corporate wellness programs ideas include:
- Flexible working arrangements
- Catered lunches
- Free healthy snacks
- De-stress areas
- Fitness room
- Ergonomic workstations
- Employee incentives
- Group outings
- Paid time off
- Pets at work
Along with increasing workplace satisfaction, determining shared interests within the workforce can promote wellness and camaraderie.
Provide planning tools and flexibility
When it comes to good health and wellbeing, the main barriers are usually money, time, and planning. Employers can help their employees by providing planning tools like guiding questionnaires to make it easier to work towards their health and fitness goals. Classes can also teach employees how to create milestones so they can reach their wellness goals.
What’s more, offering paid time off makes it easier for employees to take care of their health needs since they don’t have to sacrifice their health for a paycheck. Employees will also appreciate and benefit from flexible working hours. For instance, an employee can come into work an hour earlier than scheduled so they can leave early to attend a fitness class.
Make it easy to join
Many employees spend at least 40 hours at work every week, typically performing arduous tasks before heading home to see to their family duties. Employers can make it easier for employees to participate in wellness programs by making it more convenient. For example, they can:
- Indicate a clear walking path near the office that can be used for breaks
- Set up an exercise room in the facility
- Provide game tables like ping-pong in the breakroom
This approach enables employees to make the most of the time they are already spending in an area, thereby opening wellness possibilities that would otherwise be tricky for those with busy lives outside of work.
Integrate health into the company culture
When considering how to implement a wellness program in the workplace, it’s also important to integrate health into the company culture. There are many ways to incorporate health into the workplace, such as by providing healthy snacks for free instead of vending machines or offering group stretching sessions after weekly meetings.
Employers can also establish clear employee wellness program guidelines and include them in the employee handbook. The employee handbook can be a useful tool in recruiting and enrolling employees, as well as reminding the existing workforce of their employee benefits.
Host an onsite health and wellness event
A fun way for companies to introduce their wellness program is by hosting a health and wellness fair at work. With a guest list that includes employees and their families, companies can work with local health and wellness vendors and offer a selection of wellness-related interests to make the event a successful one. The event should take place around two months prior to the annual open enrollment period, so keep that in mind when brainstorming how to start a corporate wellness program.
Offer ongoing incentives
While the initial wellness fair is bound to be a fun experience, it should not be confused with ongoing education and promotion of the wellness program. Employers can incorporate it into their company culture by providing ongoing incentives for employees to work towards improving their health. Some ways to do this include an on-site fitness area, hosting walking clubs, and creating marketing focused on wellness in the workplace.
Give it some time
Workplace wellness culture isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s important for companies to have realistic expectations and realize that change will take time. Additionally, the program must be measured in order to tell if it’s working or not. Find ways to collect health-related data, such as with biometric screenings.
It’s also crucial to run reports on a regular basis, as well as evaluate how the wellness program is affecting employee health. Remember that different workforces have different needs, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, a smoking cessation program will hardly help with costs if smoking and other related issues are not drivers affecting the corporate health insurance plan.
Employee health and wellbeing can significantly impact company culture, recruitment efforts, turnover rates, and productivity. By following the recommendations above, any company can smoothly implement a corporate wellness program.
Design the perfect employee benefits plan with Pacific Prime
Now that you know the key steps for implementing an employee wellness program, it’s time to design the ideal plan for your workforce. We’ve created this short video offering 5 tips on designing the perfect employee benefits plan to inspire you.
If you’re looking for an employee benefits package but don’t know where to begin, then you’re in the right place. Pacific Prime is a global health insurance and employee benefits broker that works with leading insurers to help you find the right package or group health insurance for your company and budget.
Contact us to speak with one of our employee benefits consultants today.
Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.
Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
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