A Focus on Employee Wellness - Employer Considerations

Make it a priority: Start by making wellness a priority within your organization. Encourage managers and supervisors to prioritize wellness in their departments, and lead by example by incorporating wellness practices into your own routine.

Be transparent: Be transparent with your employees about why you're promoting wellness, and explain how it benefits them individually as well as the company as a whole. Let them know that you care about their well-being and want to support them in achieving a healthier lifestyle.

Twenty-two percent of respondents in a study of over 45,000 people avoided getting help for mental health symptoms because they were afraid of the social stigma.

Sapien Labs, 2022

Offer resources: Provide your employees with resources and tools to help them prioritize their wellness, such as access to healthy food options, gym memberships or wellness programs, and mental health resources. Make sure they are aware of the programs that are available to them.

Encourage participation: Encourage participation in wellness activities and initiatives. Offer incentives for employees who participate in wellness programs, and create a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable participating.

Be inclusive: Be inclusive and recognize that everyone has different needs when it comes to wellness. Consider offering a variety of wellness options that cater to different interests and abilities.

Fifty-three million US adults experience some form of mental health disorder every year, with anxiety disorder being the most common (19%).

National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2023

Listen to feedback: Listen to your employees' feedback and take their suggestions into account when planning wellness initiatives. This will help to create a culture of openness and inclusivity and ensure that your wellness programs are effective and relevant to your employees' needs.

Measure success: Finally, measure the success of your wellness programs and initiatives, and use the data to inform future decisions. This will help you to refine your approach over time and ensure that you're providing the best possible support for your employees' wellness.

Eighty-seven percent of employees feel dread at least once a month, with almost half experiencing it weekly. The problem worsens for leadership, with 55% of executives and 59% of CEOs reporting dread every week.

Headspace, 2023

Final Thoughts: Employers who take time to understand the complex (and potentially unseen) needs of their employees have an opportunity to bolster the workforce and provide value. When employees have tangible access to wellness and mental + behavioral health resources for themselves and their families, they have a better opportunity to seek out care when it's needed. This in turn drives down absenteeism and has the potential to drive up employee satisfaction. Let's do our part to educate and communicate in the workplace about the importance of wellness!