Employee wellness plays a crucial role in the overall employee experience. When employees are physically and mentally healthy, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and productive in the workplace. The circumstances that impact employee wellness can range from workload to societal injustice. Ever since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the focus on mental health as it pertains to employees, and the need for health benefits, as well as support groups, has become crucial to job-seekers. Here’s how you can enhance your employee wellness initiatives to foster a healthier and more engaged workplace.
Talk About It
Reduce the stigma by having open conversations about mental health. Here at Atrium, we host mental health discussions and provide toolkits to our employees on how they can increase their overall mental well-being. For mental health awareness month, we partnered with Healthkick to host a seminar on Finding Joy and Purpose in Everyday Life. Research shows that younger workers and historically underrepresented groups are affected the most. Millennials and Gen Zers, as well as LGBTQ+, Black, and Latinx employees, are all significantly more likely to experience mental health symptoms. We also encourage our employees to join an Employee Resource Group for additional support from their peers and allies.
Create Opportunities
Offer opportunities to your employees throughout the year to support physical and mental wellness. These opportunities can include guided meditation sessions, wellness challenges, gym reimbursement, and mental health days embedded in PTO packages. If your organization has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), be sure to promote it on a regular basis so it is always top of mind. Your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team can also play a large role in employee well-being. Having more DEI initiatives, such as inclusive language and celebrating diverse cultures, helps employees feel seen and supported.
Ask Your Employees
The best way to understand what your employees need is to ask them. Survey employee satisfaction regularly. If you are looking to update your employee wellness benefits and programming, understand that wellness is not one size fits all. Ask your employees what wellness means to them and build your offerings from the results. Wellness benefits should be inclusive and consider the needs of all employees.
Employee Experience
The relationship between employee well-being and the employee experience is a two-way street. When organizations invest in creating an environment that supports employee wellness, employees are more likely to feel valued, satisfied, and engaged. In turn, engaged employees tend to have higher morale, productivity, and loyalty, positively impacting the overall employee experience. Organizations should strive to create a culture that promotes and supports employee well-being as a core value, integrating it into their policies, practices, and day-to-day operations.
