Employee Wellbeing Programs focus on improving the well-being of workers inside and outside the work environment, trying to optimize the employee experience in all its facets. In this article we explore the main benefits of these programs and how you can apply them in your company.
Employee Wellbeing Programs: benefits for your company and your employees
As you probably know, there are multiple studies analyzing the benefits of having employees who are doing well in their work environment while highlighting the many drawbacks that stress or dissatisfaction brings.
In this sense, a well-known Gallup study indicates that workers who are satisfied represent 62% less costs due to health problems compared to those who suffer in their work environment.
In this way, satisfied employees tend to enjoy better health, lower levels of stress, in addition to higher productivity and, in general, a higher level of overall well-being in the work environment.
Therefore, any effort or investment you make to improve the employee experience will, almost for sure, result in a shared benefit between company and workers.
Different stages of Employee Wellbeing Programs
The ultimate purpose of the Employee Wellbeing Programs is to optimize the employee experience, so as to improve their level of well-being within the company.
However, Wellbeing programs do not focus on a single aspect, but take into account very different facets within the employee experience. This happens because people are not compartmentalized in the different aspects of our lives. In this way, our experience as workers, our family life and our economic situation influence each other without a clear division.
In this sense, if you want your Employee Wellbeing Programs to be effective, you should also try to attend to all these facets, as we will see below.
Therefore, aspects such as work hours, physical exercise, family conciliation, financial training, etc. they form a whole around the global concept of well-being.
How to improve your Employee Experience
Some of the measures that can be implemented within the Employee Wellbeing Programs framework to improve the employee experience are the following:
1. Flexible working hours
If your type of business allows it, the implementation of this programs tends to have a great impact on the well-being of workers. Something as simple as providing a certain amount of flexibility at the beginning and end of the workday can be very well received by the employee.
These measures contribute to a better reconciliation of work and family life and denote a sensitivity of the company towards its workers.
2. Remote work
Again, where feasible, the ability to work remotely some days of the week is often highly appreciated. For positions that do not require the physical presence of the employee in the office, it is not difficult to implement these types of measures, which are usually highly appreciated. After COVID-19 this point has proven to be key for employee satisfaction and commitment.
The worker greatly appreciates the flexibility that remote work provides, as well as the confidence that the company places in their performance.
The answer is usually greater involvement and commitment, as well as increased productivity and a reduction in sick leave.
3. Physical exercise programs
The promotion of physical exercise, either through in-house or external gyms, or through the programming of specific activities, has an undoubted impact on the Employee Experience.
Carrying out group activities also contributes to the team building, as well as the development of soft skills.
4. Physical & mental wellness programs
Activities such as yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness practices provide invaluable tools for dealing with stress in and out of the work environment.
At the same time, these types of disciplines improve concentration and, consequently, can have a direct impact on employee productivity.
5. Promotion of a healthy diet
These measures are especially important if the workplace has a restaurant or cafeteria. In this way, providing healthy food and incorporating some type of nutrition education program can significantly improve the employee’s well-being and experience.
6. Social programs
We mean the promotion, by the company, of some kind of solidarity initiative in which employees can also participate.
These activities help to strengthen internal ties and establish greater awareness around corporate social responsibility programs.
7. Financial education
Without a doubt, economic well-being is a fundamental part of the overall well-being of any person.
In this sense, it is not uncommon that many workers have not had the opportunity to develop these types of skills, so training in aspects such as financial management, savings or investment can be very interesting for most employees.
Conclusion
In short, Employee Wellbeing Programs are a very interesting tool to achieve a work environment that is not only more pleasant, but also much healthier for everyone.
The impact that these measures have on the Employee Experience and the degree of worker satisfaction is unquestionable. In addition, it is indisputable that their levels of commitment, concentration and productivity will also be affected very positively in the medium and long term.
Therefore, any investment in this regard will almost certainly be a profitable investment in the future health and well-being of the company and its employees.
