Conscientious employers are continually looking for ways to support their workforce. Workplace wellness programs are a popular option for boosting morale, improving health outcomes, and saving money on healthcare expenditures.

Employers have many options for implementing employee wellness initiatives. The key to building an effective program is addressing employees’ real needs, both in the workplace and during off-work hours. Read on to learn more about the benefits of employee wellness programs.

What Is an Employee Wellness Program?

Employee wellness programs are initiatives that companies of any size can set up to improve or sustain the health of their employees. Programs can include multiple facets of wellness, including:

• Physical health services: Employers can broaden access to healthcare by hosting vaccination and health screening events in the workplace, providing sufficient time off to get care, and offering incentives for improving health measures.
• Mental health services: Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and other avenues for mental health services can improve emotional well-being, reduce the risk of burnout, and assist employees struggling with substance abuse issues. Access to telemedicine for mental health services increases access to care so that employees are better able to take advantage of benefits. 
• Lifestyle guidance: Health and lifestyle coaching can help employees make positive lifestyle changes. This can include programs to promote financial literacy, relationship coaching, and stress reduction. 
• Fitness programs: Fitness benefits such as gym memberships, fitness classes, and free wearable fitness trackers are both helpful and popular with employees. 

What Are the Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs?

The most fundamental benefit of staff wellness programs is that employees experience increased wellness. Healthier, happier individuals are better positioned to be creative and productive at work. Health and safety programs can reduce the incidence of illness and injury in the workplace, which in turn reduces absenteeism and disability claims. 

Wellness programs also help create a positive company culture. Employees feel more valued when their company shows them it cares about their physical and emotional well-being. This improves employee retention and makes it easier to attract great job candidates.  

What Are the Key Components of an Effective Employee Wellness Program?

There are several key factors that make a wellness program effective and appealing to employees. 

• Active leadership engagement: Workplace wellness initiatives work best when leaders are actively invested in seeing them succeed. Company leaders should remain engaged in the program as part of a comprehensive human resources strategy. 
• A comprehensive approach: Wellness should be a holistic concept, not just shorthand for fitness or physical health. Workplaces should formulate wellness initiatives that address social-emotional needs as well as programs to improve physical health.  
• Gathering and incorporating employee feedback: Wellness initiatives should change and adapt to what employees want from them. Collect feedback about employee preferences and make changes to ensure the program’s long-term success. 
• Incentives for participation: Positive reinforcement is a strong motivator. Offering rewards and incentives for participation in staff wellness initiatives can drive adoption. Incentives can include things like recognition or rewards, such as gift cards for reaching wellness milestones.

What Are Some Examples of Employee Wellness Initiatives?

Every workplace can structure a wellness initiative that works with their company culture and addresses what employees prefer. Some wellness initiatives may include:

• On-site clinics: Having a medical clinic at a work site can be a tremendous benefit to employees. Medical staff can provide first aid for any workplace injuries, which cuts down on emergency room visits. Clinics can also assist employees with ongoing care for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure. 
• Mental health support: Employee assistance programs for mental health services make it easy for employees to access care. They can simply call the EAP and get connected to a counselor. Many counselors offer telehealth sessions, adding flexibility along with access to care. 
• Immunizations: Offering onsite vaccine clinics or vouchers for employees and their families to get annual flu shots and other immunizations is a great way to reduce seasonal illnesses. Employees are less likely to miss work for their own illnesses or need to stay home to care for a sick child. 
• Flexible work schedules: Non-traditional work schedules offer employees control over their work-life balance. Giving workers flexibility with their hours can make it easier for them to balance family priorities while still giving their all at work. 
• Direct primary care services: Workplaces can provide direct primary care plans. These plans give employees access to a wide range of primary care services without any out-of-pocket costs for them. Workers and eligible dependents can visit a participating clinic or provider for routine exams, vaccines, and urgent care needs, such as illnesses or injuries.

How To Improve Employee Well-being: 5 Tips

Getting started on a workplace wellness initiative doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with a few basic organizing principles:

1. Secure leadership support: Building a culture of wellness starts at the top. Leadership should be on board and ready to provide resources to make a wellness program work.
2. Create a wellness committee: Workplaces should establish an internal committee with representatives from all different departments. This ensures that programming appeals to a broad cross-section of employees. 
3. Survey employees: An employee wellness program should reflect what employees want.  Surveys and feedback are helpful in evaluating the efficacy of different program elements.  
4. Set clear goals and objectives: Program benefits should be apparent, easy to understand, and reflective of what employees say they want. 
5. Identify and engage program sponsors: Reach out to potential partners who can provide wellness services to your employees and give them an opportunity to tell employees about everything available to them.

Build a Culture of Wellness With Next Level Prime

Next Level Prime offers a direct-access approach to workforce wellness. In our direct care model, employers pay a monthly fee that gives employees and covered dependents unlimited access to high-quality care at our 45+ locations in Houston, Beaumont, Austin, and San Antonio. They can get primary care, vaccinations, emotional wellness counseling and health coaching services, and urgent care for illness or injuries, at $0 cost to them. Our clinics are open evenings and weekends, and we offer 24/7 telehealth services for maximum flexibility. 

Our team will work with your company to build a customized care access plan for employees and their families. Contact us today to start creating a culture of wellness with Next Level Prime.