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a different perspective on human capital

Corporate Wellness is a No-Brainer

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Spending eight hours a day at a desk isn’t the most effective route to wellness. Plus, who really wants to hit the gym after a stressful day at work? In our busy “chained to our desk” lives, sometimes wellness just isn’t our priority…even though it might be the most important thing we can do.

Luckily, some smart minds have come together and created the institution of “corporate wellness.” These are programs implemented in the workplace designed to nurture wellness in employees during the workday. According to the Harvard Business Review, employees who participate in corporate wellness programs have a higher rate of productivity, sharper focus and are more likely to stay with the company.

The benefits for employers are huge: healthy employees cost the company less. It has been proven that typically every dollar invested in a wellness program yields about $6 in healthcare savings. Add this to the increased productivity and lower turnover rates – corporate wellness initiatives are a no-brainer.

Even small companies without the budget to invest in a widespread corporate wellness program have the option to implement small things to promote wellness at work. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

– Promote Preventative Care: Think about flu season. Why risk employees being out for a week after coming down with the flu? Instead, encourage and maybe even fund vaccinations for employees. You could even bring an onsite vaccination clinic to the workplace!

– Walking Meetings: Encourage managers to schedule meetings with a little movement. Employees can take a stroll around the block while discussing important business topics. This is still productive but will also get employees outside for at least some of their day.

– Participate in Community Events: You can encourage employees to team up and participate in charity walks or runs in the community together. You can even give them time during the workday to meet and plan their efforts as an incentive.

– Healthy Luncheon: Have a nutritionist come in and provide a healthy lunch for employees. The employees get a free lunch and can learn great trips on how to stick to healthy lunches going forward.

Be MindfulCorporate wellness includes mental wellness. Give employees breaks during the workday to recharge. You could even bring in a yoga instructor to teach a lunchtime session and give tips on how to “breathe through stress” in the workplace.

– Doctor Visits: Have a doctor come in one day and give employees the chance to schedule a routine check-up without having to take off of work. This is a growing trend that has typically been very successful and could reduce medical costs in the long run.

Here at Treehouse Partners, we always try to make wellness a priority. We often ride bikes or walk to lunch and we always let employees take an hour here or there to attend a fitness class or run to the gym. We also try to keep the windows opened and the sun streaming into the Treehouse – because we all know sunshine always makes you feel better!

We would love to hear how you are promoting wellness in the workplace! Let us know programs your company has implemented or if you have an idea for a great program.

Source: https://hbr.org/2010/12/whats-the-hard-return-on-employee-wellness-programs

 

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