3 Ways to Keep Employees Healthy And Engaged All Year Round
Author: Aimee Huffman, Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher (E-RYT 500), Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), and Health Coach (ACE)
Why it matters
The future of work in the post-pandemic world is giving employers a new opportunity (and responsibility) to engage and energize their workforce. Employee needs are shifting away from just adequate pay and basic benefits and moving towards physical, mental and social health; towards thriving and being part of a workplace that takes a holistic approach to employee wellbeing and creating a safe work environment. (The World Economic Forum)
At the end of the day, employees want to be treated as human beings with core human needs.
What does that mean exactly? Well, for most of us, our core needs fall within one of three buckets:
We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, and feel like our contributions are meaningful and matter to that something.
We want to belong to a tribe or community and feel safe to express ourselves and be ourselves within that community.
We want to feel empowered to successfully fulfill our job roles and responsibilities and have the necessary tools and resources to do so.
And for these needs to be met, there has to be a system in place to address them. This is why workplace wellness programs are crucial to employee health and engagement - and should be at the forefront of your 2023 strategic planning. And if you want to implement a program that draws consistent participation and engagement, start now!
How we can help
We want to make it easier for you to build a culture of wellness in your workplace and help your employees improve their well-being. The following outline is a powerful springboard to helping employees better handle stress, develop focus, elevate energy and improve emotional intelligence within the workplace - while transforming the workplace itself.
Because an employer that promotes individual wellbeing transforms the individual employee and the entire workplace!
Volunteering
This employee engagement method has undeniable benefits that include the satisfaction of giving back to a good cause, learning about diverse needs of a community, improving overall health and retaining top talent.
In fact, a recent study by the Harvard Business Review showed that social impact projects can reduce employee turnover by roughly 50 percent. And while it might seem like a holiday-only activity, here’s a few reasons why you should do it all year long if you want to create an impactful wellbeing culture. (Mayo Clinic)
Improves physical and mental health
Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine. By spending time in service to others, volunteers report feeling a sense of meaning and appreciation, both given and received, which can have a stress-reducing effect.
Provides sense of purpose and meaning
The work that volunteers provide is oftentimes essential to everyday activities, which gives volunteers a sense of purpose, especially when volunteering in the areas they find meaningful.
Builds a more connected workforce
According to a recent survey by JLL, 46% of employees feel isolated from their colleagues and volunteering increases social interaction while building a support system based on common interests. One of the best ways to build community and camaraderie within a team is to participate in a shared activity. Dedicating time as a volunteer not only enhances teamwork but builds a more connected workforce
In general, when we give back and help others, it feels good. And when we feel good, we become more motivated to engage with our work and perform at the highest level.
Click here to get started with our guide 4 Steps to Implementing an Employee Volunteer Program (EVP).
2. Mindfulness
Recent studies show that post-pandemic, 49% of employees still feel overwhelmed by a huge mental overload and 49% believe they are at risk of burnout due to professional or personal mental load.
Mindfulness can help. And whether it’s mindfulness workshops, meditation training, or group yoga classes, these offerings are foundational to any workplace wellness program.
The mental training associated with mindfulness helps:
Reduce emotional exhaustion and build mental agility
It is possible to transform stress and anxiety (professional, personal, or a combination of the two) into mental freedom while developing the skill set to greet life’s challenges with more ease. This leads to individuals who are less prone to overwhelm and burnout, and more capable of focus, steadiness and consistent performance in the face of challenging circumstances including common stressors like deadlines and interpersonal conflicts.
Improve thoughtfulness, decision-making abilities and focus
A reduction in emotional exhaustion, stress and anxiety not only leads to an increase in efficiency and productivity but also gives employees space and permission to be present with what is. This present-centered awareness can increase openness to new ideas, self confidence and healthy workplace dynamics.
Foster connection and belonging within the workplace
Mindfulness asks us to pay closer attention to ourselves, our relationships and the world around us. This fosters a sense of belonging within ourselves and invites us to examine how we fit into the larger picture. This interconnectedness between the micro and macro environment can translate over into the workplace, inspiring individuals to consider their role within the larger team and evoke collaboration and synergy.
It’s important to note not all mindfulness training is considered equal or appropriate for the corporate environment. When looking at mindfulness programs and/or instructors, here’s a few things to keep in mind:
Do they have experience working with beginners in a corporate setting?
How do they approach mindfulness as a mental training tool or methodology?
What is their approach towards stress and anxiety?
Try this 5-minute audio training designed for the everyday meditator and share with employees looking to transform stress and anxiety into mental freedom.
3. Work-life balance
In today’s world, work-life balance seems to be synonymous with remote or hybrid work. This type of flexibility remains a priority for employees with over 59% of workers reporting they’re more likely to choose an employer that allows remote work rather than one that doesn't.
This flexibility requires a mindset shift from both employees and employers and speaks to the fluid, dynamic nature employees are asking for. A hybrid work environment supports a holistic approach that puts the energetic needs of employees above the company’s and ultimately, sparks job creativity, engagement and meets employees where they’re at.
Additional ways to support better work-life balance:
Encourage managers to focus on productivity rather than hours
Encourage breaks
Regularly review workloads
Increase support for parents
Ask employees for feedback on what will improve their experience
Acknowledge every employee is different
Click here for more ideas on how to improve workplace wellness from Swoovy Founder, Brooke Waupsh.
Summary
Post-pandemic, employers have a unique opportunity to take a more holistic approach to increasing employee engagement and building a dynamic, fluid workplace culture. Creating employee wellness programs that elevate overall health and well-being, one that offers volunteering, mindfulness and work-life balance, to name a few, is critical to the future of work. And in the process of meeting employees' physical, mental and social health needs, a mutual understanding, respect and trust unfolds that uplifts the entire ecosystem and inspires the workforce to thrive.
Interested in a free consultation on how to integrate turn-key health and wellness programs?
Aimee Huffman’s Bio:
Aimee is a certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher (E-RYT 500), Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), and Health Coach (ACE) helping employees become their most authentic, emotionally intelligent, and highest performing selves. She has been teaching yoga and mindfulness workshops for nearly a decade and working with employees in the corporate setting to improve job engagement, life satisfaction and overall health since 2017. www.aimeehuffman.com
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