Ringing in the New Year with Wellness

Burnout, financial stress, mental health. These aren’t just buzzwords anymore, they’re the soundtrack to many workplaces today. Employees are yearning for more than just paychecks and ping pong tables. They’re craving holistic wellness, a workplace where their physical, mental, emotional, and financial needs are acknowledged and actively supported. While employee well-being plays a key role in employee retention, it also has a significant impact on business performance. As a result, it’s vital for organizations to take employee well-being seriously and do what they can to foster a culture that promotes well-being.

Mental Wellness

Employers are increasingly noticing the impact that the overall well-being of their population has on their bottom lines, and their employees are noticing the impact of workplace stress on their overall well-being. Nearly one-third of U.S. employees say that their work adversely affects their mental health, resulting in issues such as lack of sleep, anxiety attacks, and low morale. Even more troubling, 27% of employees report losing trust in their employers’ well-being efforts. Many studies have shown a close link between mental health and employee productivity levels in the workplace. Poor mental health management throughout an employee population can be detrimental to organizational culture and morale, creating more opportunity for employee burnout both personally and professionally.

Employers must also consider the legal requirements that come into play when designing a workplace that supports positive employee mental health. Employers who do not take a proactive approach and supply their employees with the mental health resources may face reputational damage and potential compliance risks. When evaluating mental health resources and tools, be sure to consider the nature of your organization's work and the unique demographics of your employee population, as well as their working arrangements (in-office, hybrid, or remote). Providing thoughtful resources and tools tailored to the specific mental health needs of your workforce will resonate with your employees, promoting their adoption and ongoing utilization.

Investing in your employees’ mental wellbeing not only cultivates a positive workplace culture and leads to healthier, happier employees, but it can also have an impact on the organization's bottom line. When your employees are supported in both their personal and professional lives, they are far more likely to be more innovative and collaborative leading to increased job satisfaction, tenure, and productivity levels.

Reaching Your Employee Population

Creating a collaborative culture and engaging environment allows remote and hybrid employees to remain connected to their colleagues. Is your organization open to exploring options for remote and hybrid worker-specific social wellness? For blended workforces, there are other environmental factors that could be impacting the success of their wellness journeys.

For those who are in the office, there are several ways an employer can promote the various types of wellness in the workplace:

• Host monthly lunch and learns on rotating wellness topics
• Provide healthy snacks
• Offer flexible working hours for needing time accommodations for appointments or classes
• Create quiet spaces or wellness rooms

For those that may be working remotely, there are plenty of opportunities to engage with others:

• Hosting virtual social events including happy hours, networking opportunities, and fireside style chats. Employers can have events scheduled at regular intervals and be promoted as colleague connection and networking events.
• Regular check-ins for development & feedback. Scheduling regular calls with remote workers can promote connection with their supervisors. This is a great way to provide feedback on work product and identify opportunities for future training and development, as well as providing a chance to connect on a personal level.
• Creation of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These groups provide an additional sense of support and community with a space for connection and collaboration between groups who may not regularly interact on a day-to-day basis. Click here to learn more about leveraging ERGs.
• Introduction of connection and collaboration platforms. Organizations can leverage an internal intranet or web-based portal where employees can share and access information via discussion boards and other chat-like features on current events going on in the organization.

For more information on how to support the wellness goals of your remote employee population, Click here.

Employee surveys can help identify discussions concerning how to increase employee satisfaction with an organization and the programs that they provide. Employee surveys can help identify employee needs and preferences, which can help an employer understand the kinds of programs that their population may value most. These surveys can provide insights into program utilization, identify barriers to use and improve overall program effectiveness.

At AssuredPartners, we understand the vital role employee wellness plays in creating and supporting a thriving organization. That’s why we partner with you to craft unique solutions that align with your company’s goals and prioritize your employees’ holistic well-being. From fostering mental resilience to supporting financial education and wellness, your AssuredPartners team is here to help you tailor a wellness strategy that empowers your workforce and fuels your success.