Once upon a time I was asked to brainstorm what an employee wellness program would look like for the happy staffers at my agency. 

As a professional skeptic and the person who oversees the office piggy bank, I wasn't convinced offering a wellness program in the workplace was a worthwhile investment. Would the company see any benefit from the money and time spent on maintaining the program?

If you’re considering rolling out a wellness program for your company, you may be weighing the pros and cons like I was. Lucky you, I already fell down the rabbit hole and can attest to the significant benefits for employee and employer alike!

Let’s take a look…

Wellness & Employee Moral

I’ll start with the obvious: Healthy employees make happier employees.

Healthy employees come to work more often. They’re more productive and are mentally present when they’re in the office.  They're much less likely to try to sneak in a snooze under their desk. 

The argument that exercise releases endorphins applies here as well. Your wellness program could include a policy that allows employees to take time during the normal business day to get their sweat on. 

You may find that some of your employees work better when they’re given the opportunity to get up and move during the workday.

Small gestures like stocking healthy snacks and sugar-free beverages at work will show your team that you are focused on maintaining a healthy work atmosphere and want to help them make good choices. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes donuts are good for moral too, but your staff will appreciate the nod to healthful options.

Some companies allow employees to work remotely, giving them a chance to work outside of the office walls in a space that makes them happy.

Having an employee wellness program at work shows your employees that you care about their well-being.  Providing avenues for your team to stay healthy will keep them coming in the office in good spirits AND good health, which in turn improves the moral and productivity of the whole team.

Wellness & Team Building

Raise your hand if you work with the same people 40 hours every week but don’t know a thing about who they are outside of office…not so great for collaboration, right?

Participating in a non-work capacity allows employees to learn more about one another without the pressure of the day-to-day job getting in the way, promoting employee camaraderie and giving your team a chance to build relationships on a personal level.  

Problem solving activities like room escapes or scavenger hunts are great activities for teaching a group how to think quickly and efficiently together.  A little humor or goofiness can break the ice and help your team learn how one another functions. 

Teams will bring back their experiences with these activities and use the knowledge they gained about one another to form a stronger bond and produce their best work together.

Wellness & Cash Savings

One of my major concerns with beginning our wellness program was the investment. The cost of your program will vary depending on how generous it is, but there are also potential savings to be had.

Simply put, sick employees cost more than healthy ones.  

According to the CDC, each year in the United States the productivity loss from absentism costs employers $1,685 per employee. 

Insurance and workers compensation costs are lower for companies with employees in good health as well.  Employees who see their doctor for preventative care and have the resources they need to stay healthy save you money by filing fewer insurance claims.

Encouraging exercise and movement during the workday can help prevent workplace injuries, which in turn means less workers compensation claims.

Is there a smoker on your team who wants to quit but needs support to do so? Offering services to help them stop smoking will mean less time lost to smoke breaks.  

If you had a modest wellness program and took advantage of the above benefits, you could break even on your investment at the end of the year!

Wellness & Lead Generation

Consider this: If you’re sending your team out into the world to participate in wellness activities, they’re likely meeting plenty of people along the way which may open doors and offer networking.

If your team is participating in local races or charity walks, take advantage of the chance to spread awareness of your brand. Provide shirts or jerseys with your company logo on them, or become a sponsor of an event to get your company’s name on flyers or other event materials.

There may be opportunities to partner with other companies that offer wellness activities. Is there an in-kind trade you could make that would benefit both your company and the company providing the wellness services?

Think about your ideal customer, is there an activity you could involve your team in where they could be participating with prospects? If nothing else, having your team out waving your company flag and showing they love to work together is good for your brand!

Wellness & Talent Recruiting and Retention

Finding and retaining talent is among the largest challenges employers face. Among programs like 401(k)s and insurance, employment seekers are looking for companies that value their employees by investing in their well-being.

Offering a wellness program shows that you are concerned with the health and happiness of those you bring on. It shows that you appreciate when your staff is balanced and want to be a part of their path towards good health.

It may seem trivial when stacked against salary and other benefits like insurance, but something like a free gym membership or access to healthy cooking classes could be the factor that lands the awesome candidate you desire. Many job seekers out there see their career choice as a lifestyle, and allowing them to work on themselves while at work is a great benefit.

What I came to realize is that there is no set standard for wellness; our program looks very different from other companies who offer them. Make your program one that reflects your company culture and speaks to the kind of people you want to attract.

If you're unsure what wellness should look like for your team,  slowly build wellness into your culture and always ask your employees for feedback. Don’t worry that your efforts will go unnoticed, employees see when you care enough about them to invest in their well being. 

Is your company thinking of starting a wellness program, or are you a wellness in the workplace champ? Let me know what’s worked for you so I can get some new ideas!