Employees love
To avoid this trend, human capital management software company Paycom puts their health and wellness benefits front and center in their offices, and employees are encouraged to
It's about removing barriers and making benefits highly visible, says Tanner Bergman, head of well-being at Paycom. It's not enough to have the right offerings; you have to have to
"More often than not, we sacrifice ourselves in order to do a good job. When I'm doing that, I may not read an email [about benefits]," Bergman says. "That's why it's really important to make it visible."
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Bringing wellness into the workplace
Paycom's wellness center, located at its headquarters in Oklahoma City, was designed to give employees accessible well-being options during the workday. It features designated spaces for meetings and personal appointments, to physical and mental self care.
The central location gives employees an opportunity to see what wellness opportunities are available in the office and through their benefits plan, Bergman says. The company displays graphics with their pillars of well-being, as well as TV screens with Paycom's benefits on display.
"You have to ensure it is embedded, that it is a part of everything," Bergman says. "A benefit can be really great, but useless if you don't know about it or don't know how to engage with it."
For employees who use telehealth, Paycom installed soundproof privacy booths where they can have a private virtual appointment, allowing them to avoid the need to stay home or unnecessary travel time. Other areas of the center include offices where employees can meet with well-being advisers, as well as rooms to hold group activities, like "Human Hour," which are educational meetings on topics such as financial wellness, anxiety and grief.
"We have a team of internal well-being advisers — clinicians — who are aware of all of our benefits and trained to have those conversations," Bergman says. "Having those available resources really works to destigmatize the human things that we experience, and replace that stigma with access where you can fully be you."
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For downtime, the center has a sitting space with educational material, a low-sensory room, and interfaith and meditation spaces. Separate from the wellness center is an exercise facility and a cafeteria with a variety of healthy food options.
Strong benefits communication boosts impact and awareness
By creating multiple touchpoints, Bergman is able to reach more employees — something that benefits the business as well: Paycom's data shows that employees who engaged with well-being programs in 2024 saw higher retention rates. Along with speaking to a member of the well-bring team directly, information about the center and overall offerings is available through video, written material, office signage and monitors, meetings, email and the company's intranet.
"My goal is always, whatever we're communicating, it needs to be accessible in less than three clicks," Bergman says. "Otherwise your utilization is going to reduce."
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For benefit managers, Bergman recommends assessing what is offered and how visible and accessible these offerings are to employees. Sometimes it isn't about bringing in something new, but adjusting what exists, he says.
"It's important to step back, look at your benefit structures and ensure that they're holistic and that there is access to them," says Berman. "We can provide something, but if you can't use it, then that will drive disengagement, resentment, absenteeism and presenteeism. If you're going to offer the resources, how do you drive utilization of those?"
