In order to gain financial success, and create a sustainable business, businesses must focus on incorporating health and wellness practices at the core of their organisations. Companies around the world are recognising that when it comes to employees’ wellness, good health is indeed wealth. Have you given any thought to developing and implementing a wellness programme or initiative in your company? Well-thought-out and implemented employee wellness programmes increase productivity and aid in employee acquisition and retention.
Many businesses are small businesses which mean they have a small number of employees. A smaller workforce means that it is imperative that efficiency and productivity are maximised. Health concerns, including numerous sick days, affect the bottom line. Implementing an employee wellness programme can help small businesses in several ways.
Firstly, healthy employees can physically perform better as, generally, healthier people have more energy, work more efficiently and may even be more focused. All of these things affect individual employee productivity.
Wellness programmes may also benefit relationships among employees because people who take steps toward a healthy lifestyle, are happier, which means they are generally easier to work with. Wellness activities can also be used as valuable bonding exercises that can help create and nurture employee relationships.
Wellness programmes also help with the acquisition and retention of employees. A company willing to spend time and resources on employee health is a company that cares about its employees. This helps to differentiate your business from competitors.
Research shows that, increasingly, millennial are looking for more than just a job. They want opportunities for personal growth, strong relationships and work lives that meld seamlessly with their personal lives. A company that has a culture of wellness will be better able to attract and retain the best employees.
What can you do today to move towards creating a culture of wellness? It begins with a wellness culture that starts at the top. As a corporate leader, you need to practise what you preach and live the lifestyle that you promote within your business.
Secondly, focus on a combined individualised, customised programme that is augmented by a team programme. This provides a network of support for the individuals – and can also add a competitive component that drives people to do more, and experience more.
Thirdly, ensure there is an environment of health. It sounds easy, but if you have a vending machine in your break room, fill it with healthy snacks. When you order a corporate lunch for an educational programme, order healthy options and not pizza. Health must be embraced throughout every aspect of your business, no matter how small or large.
The fourth key is exercise and movement moments. Incorporate a variety of exercise and movement moments throughout the day for your team. This could be a power production walk that is your meeting time to discuss projects. Another example could be a scheduled motivational moment where everyone gets up and jumps rope for 10 minutes. Incorporate anything that gets your team moving – including yourself.
Ensure that wellness is an important component of your business today.
– Sherise Brooks
