The workplace environment is much different this year as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Likewise, any wellness events — including flu shot clinics — are also quite different and need an extra level of careful planning. More sanitation methods, plentiful social distancing, and daily mask-wearing are all part of the normal employee gatherings these days.

Since the flu season this year will also be paired with COVID-19 challenges, it’s more important than ever for employers to encourage workers to get the flu shot.

If you normally host an annual flu shot clinic, you may want to start considering the pros and cons of an outdoor versus indoor option. You’ll need to put even more thought into event space, signage, entrances, exits, consent forms, and more.

Below, we break down the factors to keep in mind to make the best choice for your employees when it comes to hosting a flu shot clinic this year.

How empathetic are you toward your employees?

If you struggle to showcase empathy in the workplace, you’re not the only one.

While the pandemic environment has brought to light the need for company leadership to better understand workplace empathy, many are finding it a struggle to implement empathetic practices.

In fact, 68% of CEOs think companies are empathetic. Yet only 48% of employees believe the same, according to The Businessolver® State of Workplace Empathy Study.

It’s a big enough deal to employees that one out of three employees would opt for a job switch to a more empathetic company culture. In an era where there needs to be more flexibility than ever, a focus on empathy from leadership can turn workplace harmony around.

Are you missing the key ingredient of empathy in your workplace?

Read on to learn about the importance of empathy at work and easy yet practical ways to incorporate it into the daily grind.

No one wants the flu, ever.

The thought of the aches, chills, headaches, and fatigue alone that accompany the flu is enough to make most people cringe. Luckily, one of the biggest benefits of flu shots is that it can lessen the severity of the flu and even prevent it altogether.

Just a few of the reasons to get vaccinated:

• It means less time off work
• It protects those around you
• It lessens the flu’s severity if you get it

Given that last year’s flu season kicked off early and we had the highest recorded level of flu activity since 2012, it’s time to consider the benefits of flu shots now.

And while flu vaccines won’t prevent COVID-19, it can reduce the burden of flu-related cases on the healthcare system to focus care on those infected with COVID-19.

Need a little more convincing?

Here are six reasons to get your flu shot this season:

Are you wondering how to engage remote employees in wellness discussions?

With more teams working remotely these days, engaging remote employees with useful wellness ideas to inspire healthy behavior is a must.

Especially if you want to keep them as mentally and physically healthy as possible during an era where good health is more important than ever.

Plus, if you’re not engaging your remote workers, it could be costly.

Back in 2017, The Engagement Institute released a report that disengaged employees cost companies between $450 and $550 billion a year.

Yikes.

Remote work has its own challenges when it comes to navigating unique stressors like isolation and a more sedentary work environment. That just means you have to figure out how to get remote workers invested in virtual wellness initiatives.

Not sure how?

Here are 11 ways to engage remote employees with ease:

It’s time to get your flu shot facts straight.

With flu season coming up shortly, you may be looking for solid data and stats to share with your staff. For those who have had the flu, there’s a common understanding of how miserable it can be. Chances are good that some employees have no problem getting their annual flu shot while others may hesitate.

There's a lot of misinformation out there about flu shots, including the "flu shot gives you the flu" and now the "flu shot will make you test positive for coronavirus." The excuses for not getting flu shots may seem endless, too.

Ready to cut through the noise and get just the flu shot facts?

We’ve got you covered.

In this post, you’ll find nothing but the facts, plus some of the best resources to share with employees about the flu and flu vaccinations.

Are you looking for the best healthy summer foods around?

If you need some recipe ideas for healthy options for your next BBQ, we’ve got you covered.

While it’s tempting to pick up store-bought coleslaw, potato salad, or fried chicken, those foods are generally pre-packaged and full of sodium and fat.

Luckily, summertime is the perfect time to buy seasonal favorites like cherries, which happen to be healthy and delicious.

Below, we’ve rounded up seven summer foods and easy ways to prepare them for the greatest health benefits.

Here’s a look at healthy summer foods you won’t want to miss this season:

It’s time for the annual fireworks safety reminder.

Every year, the month surrounding July 4th keeps local emergency rooms busy. In the month leading up to the holiday, an average of 180 people go to the E.R. daily thanks to fireworks-related injuries.

Aside from worrying about burns, there are other health concerns to keep in mind, too, like hearing damage and smoke inhalation.

This post will offer safety facts and tips you can distribute to employees so they can safely enjoy the fireworks displays this upcoming weekend.

Whether team members are blasting off their own fireworks or going to a public display, here are some fireworks safety facts to keep in mind:

Not surprisingly, the food you eat impacts both your mind and your body.

Thanks to a new field of research called nutritional psychiatry, new studies are showing a stronger link between nutrition and mental health.

Studies are revealing connections between good gut health and how the immune system responds. Research also points to the fact that bad gut health not only leads to poor mental health but also increases risk of other health conditions.

Our gut health is impacted by what we eat. In turn, when you consume the right foods, it releases the “happy hormone” known as serotonin. Appropriate levels of this neurotransmitter keeps your mood elevated, sleep patterns on track, and overall health going in the right direction.

Curious about how to keep your gut and mind happy?

Below, we share the most recent findings and include details on foods to keep you feeling physically and mentally well.

Here’s a look at how good nutrition can help your mental health:

Now that summer is here, it’s time to soak up the benefits of natural light.

A 2018 Future Workplace survey found natural light in the workplace — along with views of nature — to be the number one desire of employees. Exposure to natural light helps regulate mood, improves sleep, and reduces digital eye strain issues.

Sunshine never looked so good, huh?

Since social distancing measures are still very much in place in most workplaces, why not send some of your employees outside to comfortable workspaces? If employees are still working remotely, encourage them to set up shop on a patio or in their backyard to reap the positive perks associated with sunlight and mental health. 

Below, discover the biggest benefits of natural light and why soaking up the sunshine should be added to everyone’s health to-do list this summer.

Diverse workplaces call for equally diverse wellness programs. 

Whether it’s due to culture, socio-economic opportunities, or other factors, employees have differing perspectives and knowledge when it comes to health and wellness.

In order to be successful, wellness committees must cater to that, experts say.

To create employee well-being through corporate wellness programs, it’s essential for wellness committees to understand that cookie-cutter programs don’t work for different demographics. That includes making employees from all walks of life feel like they are considered and included.

It means being inclusive by asking and incorporating feedback from all interested employees. That also starts with a diverse wellness committee and providing appropriate training to those who spearhead such company health campaigns.

Curious about how to do it?

Below, you’ll find insight from a clinical mental health counselor and a global wellness thought leader.

Both weigh in on the importance of multicultural wellness in a diverse workplace. They also share tips on approaching it in a way that’s effective, sensitive, and smart.