Workplace wellness. What comes to mind when you hear those words? Weight loss challenges? Screenings? Health risks? A universally accepted definition does not really exist but most wellness programs target exercise, smoking and weight loss. What if we change traditional workplace wellness so it encompasses employee wellbeing and was seen as a natural extension of the company's identity?
I'm not going to lie - taking a holistic approach can be a tough sell in some organizations. It takes passionate, persistent and persuasive leadership to move beyond just diet and exercise. But the good news is there are some wellbeing data and insights that you can use to "sell" the concept to your boss.
Experts from Gallup have found five elements of wellbeing and yet many wellness programs focus their efforts on one area: Physical Health. These well-being elements represent the broad categories that are essential for most people to live a life that matters and include:
* Career Wellbeing: how you occupy your time - or simply liking what you do every day
* Social Wellbeing: having strong relationships and love in your life
* Financial Wellbeing: effectively managing your economic life
* Physical Wellbeing: having good health and enough energy to get things done on a daily basis
* Community Wellbeing: the sense of engagement you have with the area where you live
Why does wellbeing matter? According to 50+ years of research from Gallup, people who are Thriving (or have the highest wellbeing):
- Are happier
- Perform Better
- Stay with their employer longer
- Have lower health costs
Translation for employers? Changing an organization's culture to help employees better manage and improve their wellbeing over time can be good for the business' bottom line. So rather than implementing a "wellness program" that is a HR initiative to cut health care costs, implement a "wellbeing benefit." Make it easy for employees to take care of themselves. It could be a variety of things from farmer's markets at the worksite, mini-massages on-site, team sports leagues, flextime policies, volunteering, or healthy potlucks. It's about providing employees with the tools to help them beyond their physical health, so they truly feel valued.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts about the definition of workplace wellness.
