Taking A Holistic Approach To Workplace Wellness
If you run a business, chances are that you have been hearing about workplace wellness.
The benefits of a healthier workforce are quite clear.
What is a bit more murky is how you can actually convince them to change their lifestyle in order to benefit their health.
While the benefits to your business are clear and motivational for you, your employees are unlikely to be driven to change for the sake of your business.
Additionally, creating an artificial environment to promote wellness will not work, at least not in the long run.
While 80% of large companies offer wellness programs, only 60% or less of their employees use them.
This means that many corporate wellness programs are failing.
The solution is to take a holistic approach.
What we mean by this, in case you are not very familiar with the term holistic wellness, is to approach the idea of wellness in a way that is natural and intuitive for your employees and that looks at all aspects of health.
Rather than creating false, or external, motivation, you appeal to their natural concerns and actions.
There are five specific areas to target when taking a holistic approach to wellness.
1) Drive
Think about telling a child to do something — clean their room, eat their veggies, anything.
What is their first response? “Why?”
This isn’t just insolence.
It is a natural part of who we are.
We question why we must do things because we seek good, solid reasons for acting.
These reasons are what drive us to act.
And the biggest reason we do things is that we enjoy them.
In order to help establish drive in your employees, help them find options that appeal to them that challenge them and that they will enjoy doing.
2) Social/Emotional
When we feel isolated or unsupported, we are less likely to take a risk and try something new.
We are also more likely to feel depressed and lethargic.
It is easy to imagine that all of your employees go home to a supportive and loving environment.
However, that isn’t always the case.
You cannot change their life outside of work.
However, you can work to foster a workplace environment that is more open, welcoming, and supportive. To do this, you should be a leader and get to know your employees as individuals.
The more you know and care about them, the more support they will feel.
3) Economic
Easily the biggest for of insecurity many people feel is financial insecurity.
When we believe that we are at financial risk, it is difficult to relax and enjoy any element of our lives.
And there are ways you can help and we don’t mean giving everyone a raise.
Many people struggle financially because they do not understand how to manage money.
When we go to school, we are taught many things, but money management is something that is barely touched upon.
As a result, many of us are thrust into the adult world uncertain of how to do so much as make a budget.
Some simple classes could help your employees manage their money and live a better life.
4) Community
This part is a bit more difficult.
However, it is an integral part of our health and well-being.
When we feel safe, enjoy living where we live and are proud of our community, we are able to go about our lives feeling safe, secure, and content.
But what can you do to promote this, short of moving all of your employees to a new neighbourhood?
Use your influence to promote programs within the community that can help.
Fund some public art or gardens in the area, donate to a campaign for public safety, and even have your business take up a community cause once a month.
Even small changes can make a big difference.
5) Physical
While it is often the primary focus of employee wellness programs, physical health is actually the last component to focus on.
Only once we feel develop our drive and feel secure in our social life, financial life, and community will we be able to focus on our physical health.
To help promote this, make certain your employees have access to the education they need as well as the facilities.
If you do not have space for a gym, collaborate with one in the area to offer employees a discount.
You can do the same with kitchen studios to help employees learn how to cook healthier. The key, to this and all other areas, is support.
Cooking Class Singapore offers Corporate Wellness Programs such as Corporate Cooking Class and Corporate Baking Class, and kitchen studio rental for private corporate events is also available.