The Latest Trends
June is National Employee Wellness Month — a great time to promote health and wellness at your workplace. These days, many businesses are implementing wellness strategies to help employees stay healthy and productive.
Corporate-sponsored wellness programs are sprouting up at companies of all sizes. Research shows that approximately 50 of small businesses — even those with as few as three employees — now offer some type of wellness program.
Regardless of the size of your business, wellness programs only work if they keep your employees interested and engaged. Not sure how? Check out the latest trends in health and wellness in the office:
- Foster lifestyle management. Balancing family, personal and professional responsibilities can be tricky — especially during a 40+/- hour workweek. Carving out some time to hit the gym or schedule a yearly physical may seem like a daunting task for busy employees. The workplace is actually the ideal place to integrate these lifestyle-based healthy habits. So why not offer annual flu shots or cholesterol screenings to help reduce the risk of common health problems?
- Keep your employees on the move. Weight loss management at work is growing rapidly. Many companies now offer free workout classes onsite or at a nearby facility to make fitness more accessible. You may find that employees who regularly attend a group yoga class or Zumba session will develop a greater sense of teamwork at the office.
- Offer a variety of food options. Replace the traditional vending machine and meeting options — chips, donuts and candy bars — with fresh, healthy snacks. Offer a fruit and veggie platter at your next staff meeting instead of a cookie tray. By making healthy options more convenient, employees will be more likely to jump on the nutrition bandwagon.
- Integrate fitness into the workday. Encourage workers to make fitness part of their daily workplace activities. For example, outfit a desk with an exercise ball instead of a chair, add anti-fatigue mats for employees to stand on while they work, install ergonomic telephone headsets and keyboards, or issue pedometers so workers can clock their steps around the workplace.
- Encourage a smoke-free life. Smoking has a direct impact on one’s health — and on the health of everyone around you. Smoking cessation programs are a great way to offer employees the motivation and support to successfully kick the habit.
- Help get a handle on daily stressors. By dedicating a short time every day to mental fitness, your employees can benefit by feeling more rejuvenated and confident and ready to work! A daily “mental health break”— a time for mediating, journaling or even daydreaming — can be a valuable tool.
Remember — sitting behind a desk or standing in front of a counter or piece of machinery all day may not be beneficial to a person’s overall wellness. Make wellness a part of work life to give your employees a much-needed chance to recharge.
Boost the value of your benefits
As a valued health & benefits client of Automatic Data Processing Insurance Agency, Inc. (ADPIA), your employees have access to The Employee Advocacy Center (EAC). This dedicated service center is staffed by a team of knowledgeable, fully licensed agents. Plan members call a toll-free number, allowing them to receive complementary, confidential assistance with personal health matters.
Have a question about making the most of your health & benefits investment? Call (866) 892-3383.
For employers with five or less enrolled employees, please use Option 2, then 2 again to reach our Employer Contact Center.
For employers with six or more enrolled employees, please use Option 3 and dial by name to reach your Licensed Client Executive.
