7 questions employers should ask when preparing for wellness
Published August 27, 2018 2:00 PM
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Updated August 31, 2018 12:27 PM
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7 questions employers should ask when preparing for wellness
Successful well-being programs share a number of positive traits, but there isn’t just one individual “phenomenon” that stands out. According to recent research from employee engagement company Limeade, 72% of employees with high well-being say they also have high organizational support. And 99% of employees who have both high well-being and support for their organization say their organization is a great place to work, says Laura Hamill, chief people officer with Limeade.
Overall, Hamill suggests, employers should ask themselves a number of questions to help them evaluate their readiness for implementing a wellness program. The following seven are among them.
Overall, Hamill suggests, employers should ask themselves a number of questions to help them evaluate their readiness for implementing a wellness program. The following seven are among them.
1. Do your leaders demonstrate well-being?
It’s important that leadership promotes the importance of well-being programs by participating and modeling good wellness behaviors. Some examples Hamill offers for company executives include:
· Share a video about your CEO’s sincere commitment to employee well-being
· Model positive behavior through everyday actions — like taking lunch breaks and vacations, scheduling walking meetings and setting tech boundaries
Reinforce the importance of well-being in all written and verbal communications
· Share a video about your CEO’s sincere commitment to employee well-being
· Model positive behavior through everyday actions — like taking lunch breaks and vacations, scheduling walking meetings and setting tech boundaries
Reinforce the importance of well-being in all written and verbal communications
2. Do managers give their teams the time and space for self-care?
Managers are some of the leading drivers of an employer’s support network, Limeade research notes. However, Hamill points out, there can be challenges in engagement between managers and workers. However, these simple tips from Hamill can help improve a two-way wellness dialogue:
· Ask employees, “How are you?” Talk with employees about well-being and how to overcome hurdles
· Be a role model for well-being improvement by taking daily stress breaks, setting personal goals and sharing your progress
· Send frequent messages of support and encouragement (like thank you cards or recognition during team meetings)
· Across the organization, motivate workers n to schedule “micro-motion breaks,” engaging everyone to get up and move 1-2 minutes every hour
· Ask employees, “How are you?” Talk with employees about well-being and how to overcome hurdles
· Be a role model for well-being improvement by taking daily stress breaks, setting personal goals and sharing your progress
· Send frequent messages of support and encouragement (like thank you cards or recognition during team meetings)
· Across the organization, motivate workers n to schedule “micro-motion breaks,” engaging everyone to get up and move 1-2 minutes every hour
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3. Are teams and peers empowered to cheer each other on?
Another key ally in engaging employee wellness is utilizing peer support. Teammates are valuable resources — and “cheerleaders” — for well-being support. Hamill suggests utilizing technology and social networks to give workers tools to make connecting easier.
4. Does the physical space support or prevent healthy habits?
Hamill also suggests a number of small steps that can be taken to make sure a workspace is conductive to a stronger culture of well-being. A few steps employers can take include:
· Post motivational reminders in common areas to encourage healthy activities
· Assess the level of focused work people can do in their work areas — is it too loud? Is there too much foot traffic?
· Provide on-site resources for well-being improvement (things like natural light, healthy snack options and common rooms)
· Post motivational reminders in common areas to encourage healthy activities
· Assess the level of focused work people can do in their work areas — is it too loud? Is there too much foot traffic?
· Provide on-site resources for well-being improvement (things like natural light, healthy snack options and common rooms)
5. Is there a clear establishment of the impact wellness has on the business?
Sometimes it might not be easily visible, but a staff focused on its well-being is good for the business’ bottom line. Organizations that show a direct connection between their business strategy, people strategy and wellness initiatives will be the most likely to succeed on all fronts. Hamill suggests aligning wellness program designs and initiatives to specific business strategies. Additionally, she advises to give explicit reasons on why improving well-being matters to the organization.
6. Are you investing in tools and programs that promote well-being?
How employers approach well-being programs, from the activity tools to the platforms used, send a specific message to employees on how wellness will be approached. Hamill notes building wellness programs that easily integrate current HR initiatives will guarantee that the well-being programs are invested properly.
7. Does the organization’s culture reinforce the well-being message?
A company’s culture is pivotal in boosting employee engagement in wellness programs. Without a positive message and a culture of inclusion, wellness programs won’t survive. Hamill suggests conducting an audit to understand how ready your organization is to support well-being. “Culture tells employees what’s acceptable — so it needs to visibly (and authentically) demonstrate support for well-being improvement through policies and programs,” she says.
