By Melissa Norman
Much has been talked about the “Great Resignation”, specifically the boundless opportunities this phenomenon presents to business leaders and employers to reconsider the way they treat their people, as well as steps toward building mutually beneficial relationships with their workforce.
Needless to say, the pandemic has changed how we work, and deal with our mental and physical health.
As a result, the expectations of our workforce have evolved, with health and wellness at centre stage.
Now is definitely a good time for leaders and companies to consider new ways of implementing solutions that support and promote employee wellness.
To create a good, holistic employee wellness programme, leaders must remember that hugely successful systems start with a company’s culture itself – where norms, beliefs, and values are shared across an organisation.
Without a strong culture as the guiding principle, companies run the risk of having a disorganised mess of wellbeing and wellness efforts that are not anywhere near where they should be.
These efforts can appear to be half-baked and unauthentic. and may not be as effective as hoped.
Employee wellness efforts should go beyond providing employees mental and physical health support.
One such effort is providing day care in the workplace. This benefit can singlehandedly improve employee morale, reduce turnover, and attract a wider variety of talent. Although providing workplace day-care can be costly, many companies find that it saves money eventually as it has proven to decrease employee absenteeism and turnover.
There are other economical options to consider such as bring-your-baby-to-work programmes and on-site day care collaborations between small companies.
A fitness lunch programme is another that will appeal to all of your team member.
With only an hour for lunch, a healthy meal is not quite an option. Why not try providing your workforce with a 90-minute fitness lunch programme for a couple of days a week; giving them enough time to get in some steps, hit the gym, or even head home for a healthy homemade lunch. Other options include subsidised catered lunches and snacks, which many employees appreciate!
As the world of work evolves, the authenticity of workplace wellness programmes is key to recruiting and retaining the best talent.
All businesses, big or small, can benefit from some form of wellness programmes at work, particularly if these are implemented transparently and genuinely! – BACALAHMALAYSIA.MY
- Writer is a Founder and Managing Director, Aisling Group
