June is Employee Wellness Month, and we know that a healthy workforce equals strong productivity. Numerous studies show that employees who feel good are happier, more engaged with their jobs and more likely to motivate those around them.
Businesses that support employee wellness are 40% more likely to perform better financially, see 11% higher revenue per employee, and experience fewer sick days and less employee turnover, according to Wellable.
So, in these uncertain times, when your staff is likely worried about the economy, housing, and other stressors, supporting employee wellness is good for them and good for your business. Consider implementing some simple strategies that come with little or no cost for improving the mental and physical wellbeing of your employees:
- Make healthy eating a workplace celebration – What does your team enjoy? Potlucks during lunch? Pizza parties? Maybe a cooking contest or possibly a Friday evening, after-dinner, appetizer gathering. Food brings people together and any of these events offer opportunities to introduce healthy and nutritional alternatives.
- Sponsor moral boosters to make employees feel valued – Peer awards are a great way to recognize and honor each other. Build a simple certificate and grab a cupcake or a smoothie for your special teammate.
- Come up with physical fitness challenges. Step challenges are a simple way to support active and healthy employees. Using a map, virtually walk from one community to another. Upon completion, celebrate with root beer floats.
- Organize community service activities – Let your team choose a project and get creative on how it gets accomplished. Volunteering reduces stress and increases positivity. relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine and keeps people moving with a purpose.
- Take advantage of public resources – For example, most states offer tobacco cessation programs at little or no cost. Maybe your employee and/or their family members can use that support. Pamphlets and materials in the break room can go a long way in helping folks make a healthy choice.
- Bring in a health and wellness coach for a group session around a specific topic. Or gift employees with individual sessions! Sometimes, people just need some tools to start their wellness journey and one or two sessions with an experienced coach can be just the support they need to get going.
Supporting employee wellness ensures that your team feels cared for and valued. The better your team feels about their physical and mental health, the more they can focus on their work at hand. It’s a win-win!