From Fruit Bowls to Flexibility: Creative Solutions for Achieving “Total Well-Being”

Greetings to all HR professionals and everyone passionate about people in business! As we navigate through 2023, it's important to take note of the latest HR trends that are shaping the industry.

One trend that's gained traction in the last few years is the focus on total well-being for employees. This means looking beyond just physical health and incorporating mental, emotional, and social wellness as well. First and foremost, it's important to recognize that employee well-being is not just a nice-to-have. It's a critical component of your company's success.

Although in the “corridor” discussions well-being is frequently noted, a lot of leaders still believe that it is connected with the perks an organization provides and that it is just something complementary, playing a small role in employees’ performance.

Come along as we explore the ways in which you can achieve a total well-being focus in your organization as HR professionals.

Wellness Warriors: How HR Professionals can Transform Employee Well-being

So, how can you make sure your organization is prioritizing total well-being?

Here are a few suggestions:

Make Well-being a Core Value

Start by making well-being a core value of your organization. This means embedding it into your mission statement, company culture, and performance metrics. When well-being is a priority at the top level, it will filter down throughout the organization.

Create a Culture of Flexibility

In today's fast-paced work environment, employees often struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance. And in fact one of the biggest contributors to employee stress is the lack of work-life balance. Everyone talks about it, everyone wants it but most of the time everyone nags about it!

As an HR professional you can create a culture of flexibility by offering flexible work arrangements such as remote work, flexible hours, or job sharing. This can help employees better manage their personal and professional responsibilities, reducing stress and improving overall well-being.

By prioritizing flexibility, organizations can attract and retain top talent, boost productivity, and enhance employee well-being.

Foster a Sense of Community

Feeling connected to others is important for our well-being. Create opportunities for employees to connect with each other outside of work, such as team-building activities or social events. Consider starting for example a company volunteer program.

Studies have shown that volunteering and giving back can have a positive impact on overall well-being. You can create opportunities for employees to volunteer in the community or participate in charitable events.

This can include company-sponsored volunteer days, donation drives, or fundraising events. By promoting volunteerism and giving back, organizations can help employees feel more connected to their communities, improve their sense of purpose, and enhance overall well-being.

Offer Financial Wellness Programs

Financial stress can have a significant impact on overall well-being, and can even lead to physical and mental health problems. As HR professionals you can offer financial wellness programs that provide employees with the knowledge and tools they need to manage their finances effectively.

This can include workshops on budgeting, saving, and investing, as well as access to financial advisors or tools such as online calculators. By promoting financial wellness, you can help reduce employee stress and improve employee total well-being.

Introduce Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. You can consider offering mindfulness training and meditation sessions, or creating designated spaces for employees to practice mindfulness throughout the workday.

By introducing mindfulness practices, organizations can promote a culture of total well-being and help employees better manage stress and improve their overall health.

Promote Physical Activity

Physical activity has been shown to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Encourage employees to be active throughout the day by offering standing desks, fitness classes, or even walking meetings.

Consider sponsoring a company-wide fitness challenge or providing gym memberships as a benefit.

Implement Workplace Wellness Challenges

Workplace wellness challenges can be a fun and engaging way to boost physical activity and healthy habits among employees. You can design wellness challenges that encourage employees to increase their physical activity, improve their nutrition, or reduce their stress levels.

Challenges can be conducted individually or in teams, and can offer incentives or prizes to encourage participation. By promoting healthy habits and physical activity, on one hand you help improve employee well-being and on the other reduce healthcare costs in general.

Prioritize Mental Health Support

Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it's often overlooked in the workplace. Make sure your organization offers access to mental health resources, such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), counseling services, or mental health days.

Encourage open communication about mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Emphasize career development

Feeling fulfilled in our work is important for our well-being. Make sure your organization offers opportunities for career development, such as training programs or coaching and mentorship opportunities. Encourage employees to set personal and professional goals and support them in achieving those goals.

Provide healthy food options

What we eat can have a big impact on our physical and mental well-being. To support even further the promotion of physical activities and total well-being in general, offer healthy food options in the workplace, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.

Consider partnering with a local farm or food co-op to provide fresh, local produce. It will also enhance the sense of community.

Total Well-being: A Journey Towards Employee wellness

These are just a few ways in which you can prioritize total well-being in your organization. The key is to be creative and flexible in your approach. What works for one organization may not work for another. It's important to listen to your employees and understand their unique needs and preferences in the journey to achieve total well-being.

It's also important to measure the impact of your efforts. Consider conducting regular surveys or focus groups to gather feedback on your well-being initiatives. Use data to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments as needed.

Prioritizing total well-being in your organization is not just the right thing to do, it's also good for business. By creating a supportive environment that values employee well-being, you can improve engagement, productivity, and overall company performance.

In this journey to total well-being stay in touch for more tips and new HR trends and join our training programs.