Addressing the well-being of your employees involves more than just healing and maintaining the physical body. While a virtual yoga class or full-service nutritious snack bar might help promote a few healthy habits, improving overall wellness requires a strategically planned framework.
That’s why over half of all U.S. organizations offer corporate well-being programs for their employees.
Unfortunately, many traditional wellness programs fall short of achieving organizational goals by focusing too much on physical health, and their rigid structures often ignore the unique wellness needs of employees.
On the other hand, holistic strategies take a multifaceted approach to wellness, going beyond exercise and nutrition to provide resources and activities that employees can take advantage of at their own discretion. Not only do holistic wellness programs consider all dimensions of health, but they also meet employees wherever they are on their individual wellness journeys.
In this guide, we’ll cover all there is to know about holistic wellness in the workplace, from the six essential pillars to strategies employers can use to effectively empower their employees.
A holistic wellness program offers organizations a way to promote wellness in all aspects of their employees’ lives. These initiatives recognize how different dimensions of health are interconnected, and they aim to address each one simultaneously with various activities, techniques, and resources.
But what are these essential elements for overall health?
Although employees exhibit different symptoms than unhealthy businesses, taking a holistic approach to wellness can bring balance and healing to both. How does this work?
When employees are affected by health issues—such as mental health illnesses, chronic pain, or even just general stress—it can impact their performance and participation at work. Holistic wellness programs can help address these diverse workplace problems with accessible resources that:
So how can companies leverage holistic wellness in the workplace to empower their employees?
Holistic wellness initiatives provide organizations with a comprehensive action plan for improving the physical, mental, financial, social, occupational, and purpose-driven well-being of their employees.
Rather than adopting a rigid, cookie-cutter program that only narrows in on one area of wellness, this holistic approach takes into account all aspects of an employee’s life to achieve dramatic results.
Let’s take a look at a few different ways employers can incorporate holistic wellness into their daily operations:
To start, employers can incorporate programs like exercise challenges, games, or mid-day walk breaks to boost physical activity among workers. And with the multifaceted approach of holistic wellness programs, employers can also use these physical initiatives to target other areas of well-being as well.
Numerous studies have shown exercise to reduce symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety, and stepping away from the desk can drastically improve mental clarity and focus. In addition, getting your team together for a bit of leisure time can also build connections that translate to better collaboration, improving social wellness and belonging.
Organizations that prioritize employee well-being will often offer safe spaces for open and honest discussions. While it isn’t a substitute for therapy, it’s more than an open-door policy.
As part of creating a safe environment, many companies will require leadership to undergo mindfulness and emotional wellness training. That way, they’re equipped to help employees prosper, no matter their situation.
Another excellent way to incorporate holistic wellness at work is to actively practice mindfulness and meditation. In fact, a 2022 study found meditation to be as effective as medicine at reducing anxiety.
Whether it’s an unstructured time for reflection and relaxation or a guided class that focuses on the mind and body, these programs can help employees lower stress levels and better manage mental health issues like anxiety at work.
While many companies have moved to remote and hybrid models in recent years, the social component of work has never gone away.
To help facilitate social interactions and improve the work community, employers can encourage more interactions (either in-person or over video call). Having a physical break room with games and healthy snacks is a great way to promote face-to-face socialization, but even an open chat room can help foster connections among workers.
Without any direction in their careers, employees can often become unmotivated or disillusioned at work. By setting realistic objectives and establishing clear outlines for advancement opportunities, companies can help their employees achieve their goals.
Promoting employees will not only allow them to explore their potential and grow professionally, but it can also be an organizational advantage by improving loyalty and retaining long-term knowledge, experience, and expertise in an otherwise competitive job market.
Not every employer has the luxury of increasing compensation at whim, but extra cash doesn’t solve every issue in the first place.
Instead, many companies are reviewing and updating their financial benefits packages to be more attractive and equitable to diverse employee populations. At the same time, other organizations are offering workshops that aim at improving employee financial literacy and reducing financial anxiety.
Last but not least, companies are realizing that a sense of purpose is essential to maintain a healthy, happy workforce. While not every person derives this from their job, helping others is an almost universal way to find meaning in life.
To help, organizations can set up outreach and volunteer opportunities in their local communities. Employees who participate will not only get the chance to give back to others, but they’ll also engage in valuable team-building activities that improve performance and overall well-being.
Happy, healthy employees are good for business. Choosing the right path to get there is a crucial part of the process, but it can sometimes be confusing. At WellRight, we’re here to help.