Employees are the most important resource for any business organization, in fact one of the most important one. It is important to have a healthy work-force in order to function properly. In the present time where depression is becoming a disease, it is important that companies pay undivided attention to the wellness of its employees. It’s high time to start a wellness program in your company in order to have a healthy work-force with highly engaged employees.
What is wellness?
According to The World Health Organization, “Wellness is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
The term wellness cannot be measured for a particular period rather it is always measured over a period of time. Wellness does not mean simply not being ill rather it focus on keeping one’s body in a good condition so it runs more efficiently and stays well longer. Looking from an organization’s point of view, wellness is the ability of employees to produce results for the organization by being healthy, both mentally and physically.
What are wellness programs?
A wellness program is a program which is particularly designed and implemented by an employer in the organization to improve the health of its employees. A good wellness program also helps individual employees overcome specific health-related issues and focus on good things as well as work. A wellness program holds different meanings for different organizations.
Keeping the requirements of the employees in consideration, employee wellness program should be designed accordingly. Some of the important things that can be included in the employee wellness program to make it a hit are:
- Regular Health Assessment
- Wellness Activities or Challenges
- Wellness Rewards or Incentives
Organizations can start with any of the above-mentioned element and later on expand their wellness programs with the passage of time.
Some of the incentives that can be taken by an organization for such wellness programs are as followed:
· Promote Nutrition and Healthy Living
This forms the basis of all the wellness programs. Promoting the nutrition and healthy living both at workplace and at the place of residence is a good approach. An organization may provide accessories for the same for e.g. providing branded water bottles, providing the employees with healthy office snack once or twice a day and what not. The organizations may also organize for various meets that may be with a chef who teaches the employees as to how to cook healthy or taking the employees out to for a healthier lunch at times.
· Organizing Fun-filled Fitness Challenges, Competitions, and Contests
The organizations must not only look after the physical wellness but shall also look after the mental health of the employees. The organizations can organize various fitness challenges to look after the employee’s well-being. These challenges can be fun in nature, so as to relieve the employees from any kind of stress during work. They can also set certain rules which every employee must follow as the minimum water rule, healthy snacks etc. The organization may also organize monthly as well as weekly fitness challenges including push-ups, runs etc.
· Provide for an Active Rejuvenation
Rejuvenating an employee is very crucial for an organization. The organization may encourage nap time for employees in office premises, which many of the companies are offering now. The benefits of napping include improved creativity, productivity, and memory. Or the organization may put a comfortable recliner in an unused room in their office to create a “nap room” or have a scheduled recess where every employee can get out of his or her table and socialize with each other or just enjoy the fresh air and relieve stress.
So, these are some of the tips that can help you plan your own employee wellness program. Most of the companies have worked hard to implement a wellness program and there should be no reason for not implementing the same in your organization.
For more such tips to improve the overall well-being of employees, stay tuned to our Blogs.
