A Shift in the Focus of Wellness Programs
For many of us, a quarter to a third of our lives will be spent in the workplace.
On a daily basis, we will spend more waking hours in our workplace than at home, and experience more exchanges with team members than family members.
When corporate wellness programs first took off, the focus was primarily on smoking cessation or weight loss goals. Current wellness programs have come a long way since then – now, program offerings have expanded to focus on more than just the physical aspect of health. Employers are now using corporate wellness programs to increase employee engagement and to become more mindful of mental health at work. Companies are doing this by combining more traditional well-being efforts with career coaching development programs.
Keeping Wellness Simple
This year, more workplace wellness programs will be switching to a “less is more” approach. One possible reason for employers not seeing the participation levels they want in their wellness programs is because the program is too confusing. Employees desire simple, uncomplicated wellness tasks and objectives – most likely because they already have enough on their plates. The last thing employers want to do is stress out employees even more by asking them to complete complicated tasks.
Workplace wellness programs can be simplified by focusing on five key factors that contribute to a successful wellness program:
- Accessibility
- Communication
- health assessments
- Screenings
- Health education
By keeping employee wellness simple, employers can expect higher participation rates and less confusion surrounding wellness initiatives.
Lifestyle by Design 