​Whether you are going into work or working from home, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way you work and has disrupted the familiarity of daily life. Fear and anxiety about the virus and lockdowns have left many workers feeling overwhelmed, and suffering from workplace stress that can lead to burnout.

Today’s culture and workforce are placing wellness and mental health considerations at the top of their list when choosing and staying with a job.  This is why companies large and small are taking a look at their current wellness program and introducing progressive adjustments to retain and attract talent.

Leading corporations like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs who have had notorious reputations as tough places to work with fast paced and cut throat environments with 95 hour work weeks. Appear to be leading a change in corporate culture on Wall Street with an emphasis on empathy and compassion for the wellness and mental health of their employees.

Employers that have partaken in the shift are seeing the significance of maintaining employee health. Workers are the backbone of any company and when they are well-cared for by employers, the business gains several benefits and as a result, everyone wins.

While similar initiatives have already existed even before the pandemic, companies have made improvements to accommodate higher stress levels and more diverse wellness needs. Employees have long been asking for better programs and finally, we are getting solutions.

The Benefits of Employee Wellness

Holistic employee wellness programs bring advantages for both employers and employees. It may have taken a while, but employers are gaining more awareness on the impact of these benefits on the workers and the business. Some of them being:

Higher levels of employee productivity

Employees can work unhindered when they are healthy and alert. With less bouts of sickness, their productivity can shine more consistently.

Increased holistic well-being of workers

Better well-being makes happier employees. This can encourage workers to build stronger bonds at work and energizes them to do their best.

Heightened team morale

Team morale is a sign of satisfaction at the workplace. When employees feel valued by the company, they become more enthusiastic with completing their tasks and duties.

Improved employee loyalty

Wellness programs can be seen as a good perk for potential hires and current employees. Companies can attract and retain top talent since many prefer companies that have well-established wellness programs.

Reduced absenteeism

Work no longer feels like work when employees are engaged and happy in the workplace. This drives less absences due to stress and sickness.

Less workplace injuries

When companies support workers who want to eat healthily and build healthy habits, employees experience less injuries and medical conditions. It also adds to the benefit of making good habits easier to sustain.

Decreased healthcare costs for companies

With less injuries and sickness, companies also save on compensation. With less people calling in sick days, each work day is more productive and the workflow is not disrupted.

Wellness programs vary across companies and some implement the programs better, reaping more benefits than others. These depend on which initiatives each company takes precedence in and the innovation they integrate into their proposed solutions. Some companies' programs do so well that the ideas are adopted by other companies as well.

Wellness Program Examples

As businesses realize the significance of wellness initiatives, the topic of health and well-being takes on a bigger role in the future of work. Some popular programs that have helped employees feel more engaged and cared for include:

Nap rooms

When Asana's employees work too much overtime and lack sleep the next day, they can restore some of their energy by taking a power nap in "nap rooms." These special rooms can help staff deal with the occasional work slump. They can help in de-stressing and boosting creativity and productivity.

Yoga

The advent of corporate yoga has been around for some time since it has been proven to reduce workplace injuries and strengthen mental well-being. Companies like Oracle and Paypal have had yoga sessions in their wellness programs for years, making this wellness program a central pillar of their employees' overall health.

Zumba

At Paypal and DBS Bank, employees are encouraged to join group fitness sessions during casual online hangouts and video calls with co-workers. It helps them keep fit while providing a place to talk about their mutual interests and other non-work related topics. Healthy habits are better reinforced with a social element, while everyone can relax and socialize at the same time.

Telehealth

Employers like VMWare are investing more on telehealth for their employees. Since the pandemic has made it difficult to visit healthcare providers, workers can receive consultations online and get the medical help they need. VMWare complements these services with counselling and treatments for more common ailments as well.

Mental health programs

Cisco has long promoted mental health by providing wellness initiatives like "A Day for Me," where employees could take time off work to focus on themselves. The company also made sure that for those who couldn't find the time, they could reschedule their day a few months afterward. Moreover, as a tech company, Cisco also promotes employee health by allowing them to use a wellness cloud where they could upload their workout videos and digital health information from fitness devices.

If there is one good thing we've realized during the COVID-19 crisis, it is the change in how companies approach mental wellness. Employers are now more sensitive to helping workers with one of their most important needs, an aspect that has been neglected for far too long.

These improvements are a wonderful start; all companies need to do further is enhance program sustainability so that they can continue well beyond as a mere response to the arrival of the pandemic.