Is employee wellness the future of human resource management?

October 1, 2021 - Employee wellness is a phrase we hear more and more these days. Put simply, it means that companies and businesses are putting a bigger premium on improving the mental health of their employees. Not only does it boost productivity, but it also helps businesses by creating a more harmonious employee/employer relationship that can help build loyalty and drive performance. This article outlines why employee wellness is the future for human resource management and offers some conclusions about its implications.

What is employee wellness?

Employee wellness is a broad term that encompasses the range of benefits and policies that companies put into place to improve the health and happiness of their employees. This, in turn, can help increase productivity and reduce sick leave. It's not just about providing financial incentives for employees to exercise or join a gym; it should also provide other facilities such as counseling, yoga classes, and wellness programs.

Employee wellness can also boost productivity and reduce sick leave. But what about its impact on your employees and business as a whole? Here's how employee wellness can make a difference in your company.

Financial health

Employee wellness programs often include health insurance and financial incentives to encourage healthy behavior. This can be a big driver for some employees who want to earn the extra cash while also leading a healthier lifestyle. If you look at established companies such as Dell, Uber, and Barclays Bank, this is already taking place across the board. Such benefits are usually included in the benefits package that is offered to employees, depending on what the company can afford.

Physical health

Your employees will thank you for giving them the facilities to exercise in. Offering things like yoga classes and wellness seminars can go a long way towards keeping people healthy and happy. There are wide-ranging benefits such as the ability to de-stress, improved concentration levels, weight management, better sleep patterns, and overall improved mental health.

These benefits help improve productivity levels and reduce sick leave, as we've already mentioned. What's more, offering such facilities allows you to attract the kind of employees who are passionate about living a healthier lifestyle. The result is your recruitment pool increases, allowing you to hire better workers with higher standards.

Mental health

Life is stressful. When an employee's mental health isn't taken care of, this can lead to issues such as depression and anxiety. With 35% of all workers suffering from one condition or the other, it makes sense that companies should be offering better support for their employees. In fact, 52% of Americans say that their mental health has a direct impact on their ability to do a job well, so it's something companies have been realizing more and more in recent times.

The good news is that there are many different ways companies can improve the mental health of their employees. This could include offering counseling and support services, gyms on-site for workers to exercise, and wellness seminars or conferences to help employees relax and de-stress after a busy day at the office.

Recognizing achievements

Arguably, employee recognition is the most effective way of improving workplace morale. Employees who were recognized at work were more likely to stay with their company and enjoy coming in each day. As a result of this, they will also perform better as well.

Employee recognition doesn't always have to be expensive or time-consuming either. You can simply thank your employees for a job well done by sending them a quick email or giving them a pat on the back at a weekly staff meeting. When you let your employees know how much you appreciate their hard work, they'll be more motivated to do an even better job going forward.

Conclusion

When it comes to improving productivity and reducing sick leave, there is no better option for HR managers than employee wellness. By offering insurance benefits, financial incentives to encourage healthy behavior, and access to yoga classes, gyms, counseling services, seminars, and support hotlines, you are improving the lives of your employees in countless ways.

The result will be that they are healthier both mentally and physically. As well as this, they will perform their jobs better and be happier doing it - all while sticking around the company for years to come.

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