An Employee wellness program, or workplace wellness program, shapes a company's brand and reputation and elevates employee wellbeing. Differentiating your company and attracting top talent can be achieved through a successful wellness program. These programs promote a healthier lifestyle, provide incentives that foster a positive work-life balance, and improve employee retention, engagement, and productivity. Additionally, they serve as a preventive health option for employees struggling with chronic disease.
From wellness activities like fitness classes to mental health resources and healthy food options, employee wellness programs offer various wellness benefits for employees and employers.
Employee wellness program plays a fundamental part in a company's brand and reputation, including how they can differentiate your company and attract top talent.
How Employee Wellness Programs Differentiate Your Brand
In today's competitive job market, employees look for more than just a paycheck. They want to work for a company that values their well-being and promotes a positive work-life balance.
A recent study by employer review site Glassdoor revealed that most employees (79%) prioritize new benefits over a salary increase. The top requested benefit among employees was health care, with 40% of respondents stating they would prefer this over a raise.
That is where wellness programs come in. By investing in employee health or wellness benefit, companies can differentiate themselves from other employers and attract top talent.
What Makes Employee Wellness Important to Your Brand?
The importance of employee wellness has become a top priority for companies as they recognize the impact it has on their bottom line. Wellness programs promote healthy habits, foster a positive work-life balance, and improve employee engagement and employee productivity.
By investing in the health and well-being of their employees, companies can improve employee retention, reduce absenteeism, and ultimately increase productivity and revenue.
One of the key reasons employee wellness has become so important is the high rates of employee burnout. According to a study by the Wall Street Journal, employees who participate in wellness programs are more productive, engaged, and motivated. They also tend to have lower absenteeism rates and a reduced likelihood of burnout. A workplace wellness program can help combat these issues by promoting a culture of self-care and work-life balance.
The main consequence of not paying enough attention to wellness is absenteeism. A study by the Indiana State Department of Health discovered that companies could realize significant savings in absenteeism costs for every dollar invested in employee wellness programs. On average, employers save $5.82 in lower absenteeism costs for every dollar spent on such programs. Wellness programs can reduce absenteeism by promoting healthy habits and reducing the likelihood of illnesses and injuries.
In addition, wellness programs can also have a positive impact on employee engagement. Studies have shown that employees who feel their well-being is a priority are more likely to be engaged and motivated to perform at their best. That leads to increased productivity and better results for the company.
When an employee's engagement in their job wanes, stress can become overwhelming and have a negative impact on their well-being. That is particularly true when employees do not feel a sense of belonging or feel unsupported in their work environment.
Wellness programs can differentiate a company's brand by promoting employee wellness. By offering resources and activities that promote physical and mental health, companies can attract job candidates who prioritize their well-being.
Employee wellness is becoming a significant factor in jobseekers' decision-making in today's job market. By emphasizing the well-being of its employees, a company can set itself apart from others and attract top talent.
How to Promote Your Employee Wellness Programs
The benefits of a comprehensive wellness program are undeniable, including decreased absenteeism, increased productivity, overall improved health, and better employee retention. However, to fully reap these rewards, it is essential to create awareness and engagement among employees.
Unfortunately, with the many demands on our time and attention, it can be challenging for employees to participate in employer-provided wellness activities. Studies show that only 60% of workers know that their employer offers a wellness program, and only 40% actively participate.
What methods can a brand use to promote wellness programs and increase employee participation in health and wellness programs?
Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for reaching a wide audience, including job candidates. Companies can use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share information about their wellness programs, such as upcoming events, testimonials from current employees, and success stories.
Social media can help create buzz and interest in the program and encourage job candidates to consider the company a potential employer.
Capture Attention
It is crucial to capture the attention of potential employees and keep them engaged. That can be done by using eye-catching graphics and videos and by highlighting the employee benefits of the wellness program clearly and concisely.
The program can include statistics on how the program has improved productivity, engagement, and wellness.
Use a Consistent, Positive Tone
When communicating about the wellness program, it is essential to use a consistent, positive tone. Friendly, conversational messages that focus on the benefits of participation will be more well-received than those that sound critical. That can help to create a sense of community and encourage employees to get involved.
Encourage Wellness Program Diversity
Another way to promote the wellness program is to encourage diversity in the activities and events offered. That can include fitness classes, stress management workshops, and nutrition seminars.
By offering various options, employees are more likely to find something that interests them and that they'll participate in.
Employee Advocacy
Employee advocacy is a powerful tool for promoting the wellness program. Encouraging employees to share their personal experiences and successes with the program can create a sense of ownership and pride in the program. That can help create a positive wellness culture and encourage more employees to participate.
External Communications
Another way to promote wellness programs is through external communications, such as newsletter and email campaigns, billboards and posters, and the company website. That helps increase the program's visibility and awareness among job candidates and the general public and encourages them to consider the company a potential employer.
Keep Wellness Programs Relevant
Finally, it is vital to keep the wellness program relevant and up-to-date. That can be done by regularly reviewing the program and making necessary changes. This can include adding new activities and events or modifying existing ones to meet employees' needs better.
Examples of Successful Employee Wellness Programs
1. Google's Wellness Program
Google's wellness program is widely considered one of the most successful in the industry. The program, available to all Google employees, includes a variety of offerings such as on-site fitness classes, health screenings, and access to a health coach.
The program promotes a healthy lifestyle among employees and has positively impacted company culture.
One of the key features of Google's wellness program is the on-site fitness classes. Employees can participate in various fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates, and spinning. The classes are held on-site, allowing employees to participate during their workday. The classes are also open to all fitness levels so that employees can participate regardless of their fitness level.
Another feature of the wellness program is the health screenings. Google offers a variety of health screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings.
These screenings are available to employees at no cost and are a great way for employees to check their overall health and make any necessary lifestyle changes. This is of huge benefit to the employees since the screenings reduce health care costs drastically.
Google also offers access to a health coach. Employees can schedule one-on-one appointments with a health coach to discuss their health and wellness goals. The coach can help employees create a customized plan to achieve those goals and provide ongoing support and guidance.
2. Aetna's Wellness Program
Aetna's wellness program is another excellent example of a successful program. This wellness program is available to all Aetna employees, and it includes a variety of initiatives such as fitness challenges, health screenings, and access to a health coach. The program is designed to promote a culture of health and wellness among employees and has positively impacted the company's brand reputation
One of the key features of Aetna's wellness program is the fitness challenges. Employees can participate in various fitness challenges such as step, weight loss, and endurance. These challenges motivate employees to increase their physical activity and improve their overall health. The company also rewards employees who participate and achieve their goals.
Another feature of the program is the health screenings. Aetna offers a variety of health screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings.
3. Procter & Gamble's Wellness Program
Procter & Gamble (P&G) is a multinational consumer goods corporation that has implemented a comprehensive employee wellness program to support the health and well-being of its employees. The program, "Living Well," is designed to help employees improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
P&G's Living Well program includes a variety of physical wellness initiatives and free health coaching to help employees set and achieve personal health goals. P&G also encourages employees to take advantage of their vacation time and disconnect from work when they are away.
P&G's Living Well program includes emotional wellness initiatives such as counseling, support services, and mental health days. The program also provides employees access to confidential counseling services and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) designed to help employees cope with personal and work-related issues.
P&G's Living Well program includes financial wellness initiatives such as financial planning workshops, retirement planning resources, and budgeting tools. The program also provides employees access to financial advisors to help them plan for their financial future.
Overall, P&G's Living Well program is designed to help employees improve their health and well-being hence reducing healthcare costs, leading to increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and improved employee engagement.
4. FitOn Health
FitOn Health is a health and wellness platform that offers various services to help individuals improve their physical and mental well-being. Add- FitOn Health partners with employers and health plans to offer their program free of charge to users through their employee benefits offering.
One of FitOn Health's key features is its selection of fitness classes. Users can choose from a variety of workouts, including yoga, Pilates, strength training, and cardio, to name just a few.
In addition to fitness classes, FitOn Health offers a range of nutrition plans to help users achieve their health and wellness goals.
Another essential aspect of FitOn Health is its focus on mental health. The platform offers a range of resources, including guided meditations, therapy sessions, and counseling services, to help users improve their mental well-being.
Conclusion
Wellness programs have become an essential aspect of today's business world. With the increasing competition for top talent, companies are recognizing the importance of offering programs that promote the well-being of their employees.
From improving employee productivity and engagement to boosting company culture, employee wellness programs have many benefits that are crucial for attracting and retaining top talent.
As companies continue to focus on the overall health and well-being of their employees, wellness programs will continue to be a key factor in the success of any organization. Whether it be Google's, Aetna's, or Deloitte's wellness program, they all positively impact the employees and the company's reputation, making them a model for other companies to implement such programs. Reach out to us today for more information about employee wellness programs.