What is an employee wellness programme?

An employee wellness programme is a crucial part of keeping morale high and turnover low in your workforce. In this blog we’ll explain exactly why these programmes are so important, how they work and how to put one together.

The definition of an employee wellness programme

An employee wellness programme is a benefits system set up by an organisation to help improve and maintain employee wellbeing – this can be their emotional, physical or mental health.

These initiatives, sometimes known as corporate wellbeing programmes, look to provide employees with different options to improve their wellbeing, depending on their needs.

Why are employee wellness plans so important?

In the modern working environment, all successful business and HR leaders realise that employees need more than just a pay cheque to keep happy. Supporting your team in every aspect of their lives is crucial. You should think of your employees as humans who, unlike machines, need to be kept happy and healthy in order to perform at their highest.

An employee wellness programme is a sure-fire way to maintain your employee health, which in turn will improve employee morale and your office environment in general.

What are the benefits of corporate wellness programmes?

Reduced absenteeism

Healthy workers in a culture where a priority is placed on wellbeing are far less likely to fall sick and need time off work to recuperate.

Don’t just take our work for it. A study published in the Harvard Business Review found that companies with a high participation in their employee wellbeing initiatives saw a 19% reduction in absenteeism compared to companies with low participation.

This means that any budget you allocate to your corporate wellbeing programme is likely to be offset by a more present workforce, making it a win-win.

Improved productivity

Similar to the reduced absenteeism point, healthy workers will naturally be more able to work harder and faster. A person who isn’t given the space and opportunity to focus on their wellbeing is more at risk to fall ill. Even if this doesn’t mean they have to take time off work, they will still be less engaged with their work and less productive.

An employee wellbeing programme can help combat this.

Reduced burnout

Hard work should always be rewarded in your organisation, but you also need to make sure your team aren’t burning themselves out by constantly giving 110% - this is where an employee wellbeing programme can help.

By installing a programme that offers wellbeing benefits to your employees you can help keep your team in top shape, making them feel valued and cared for which in turn will reduce the chance of burnout.

Improved company culture

Bringing in an employee wellness programme establishes your organisation as a place that cares for your staff on a human level. It shows your workforce that rather than seeing them as numbers, you value each one of them as individuals and want them to be at their best, both in and outside of the office.

This kind of dedication to your team will drastically change your company culture for the better. Plus, knowing that their workplace is investing in their wellbeing will be a huge morale boost for your staff, proving that you see them as a core part of your business’ future.

What are the core components of successful employee wellbeing initiatives

Like any workplace initiative, a successful employee wellbeing programme requires a solid plan and investment. Here are a few key components you’ll need in order to ensure your programme hits its goals.

Leadership buy-in

The most successful corporate wellbeing programmes will have support from every level of the organisation. This means you need buy-in from the top levels of leadership.

Not only will this secure the resources necessary to set up the programme, but will also legitimise it in the eyes of your employees, convincing them that rather than a temporary appeasement, this is a new long-term initiative that will have a serious impact on their lives.

Assessment of employee needs

To ensure your employees get the most out of your wellbeing programme, start with their needs – conduct internal research to determine what your workforce needs to improve their mental and physical health. This will inform what benefits are included in your employee wellbeing initiative, allowing you to provide your team with exactly what they want.

Community engagement

We’ve said it many times before – your benefits won’t help your employees if nobody knows about them! So be sure to promote your new employee wellbeing programme and encourage engagement from your employees.

Don’t just rely on including it in the company newsletter. Organise a company-wide event for the launch of the programme, and maybe even include a quick demonstration so your team can instantly see the various wellbeing perks they are now entitled to. By focusing on engagement your staff are more likely to use the wellbeing programme and reap the benefits from it.

Measurement and evaluation

It’s important to measure how many of your employees are engaging with your employee wellbeing programme, and which benefits they are using the most. Keeping sight of this data will help you fine tune the programme, making sure you continue to offer the benefits that your employees need the most.

Examples of employee wellbeing initiatives

Here are some employee wellbeing benefits that organisations have used to great effect. Of course, don’t feel limited by this list – just because something hasn’t been done before, doesn’t mean your employees won’t benefit from it.

Quit smoking programmes

Quitting smoking is, as everyone knows, incredibly difficult. However by offering an employee wellbeing initiative that helps your staff quit this vice, you can give your team an extra incentive to flush their last cigarette and start living a healthier lifestyle. 

This could take the form of employees who smoke logging every day they go without a cigarette. Then after a certain number of days they can be rewarded with a small gift, demonstrating that their employer is truly behind them kicking the habit.

Physical wellbeing programmes

As we mentioned above, healthy, happy staff are less likely to take time off work and more likely to bring the best version of themselves to the office. Perhaps a gym membership through your employee wellbeing programme can help in this area?

Some companies offer a full physical exam every year to their staff, helping them feel healthy and cared for.

Financial wellbeing programmes

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to loom over us, financial wellbeing programmes are proving not just popular, but sometimes necessary to keep a workforce content. 

Your programme can promote financial health to your employees, educating them about ways to make their money go further, and offering discounts and every-day retails to ease any financial strain they might be under.

Learn how Reward Gateway can help support your employee wellness plans by scheduling a demo with one of our friendly employee experience experts.