Companies spend around $190 billion a year to address the psychological and physical effects of burnout. 

Prioritizing employee well-being is crucial as it increases productivity, reduces absenteeism, and helps companies retain their top talent. Perhaps you’re planning to improve your workplace’s wellness programs but you’re not sure where to start.

Sounds familiar? You’ve come to the right place. Here are 8 tips to help you.

  1. Know the Areas to Address

Before introducing employee wellness programs to your company, know well-being falls into three categories: social, physical, and psychological.

The social aspect means you promote inclusivity, provide family-friendly benefits, and create a culture of trust. Physical well-being relates to staying in shape, preventing illnesses, and offering nutritious meals.

Psychological well-being is where employees discuss their mental health and have support when times are tough. Companies must use these as a foundation for their employee wellness programs so it’s robust and benefits every aspect of one’s well-being.  

  1. Introduce Flexible Working Hours 

A fantastic way to promote employee appreciation is by introducing flexible working hours. This empowers your team as they have control over their work-life balance and shows you trust them to set their own schedules.

You should also allow remote days as it’s practical for staff with young children. Plus, employees are often more focused when they’re working from home or their local cafe. A bonus is that the change of scenery will spark more ideas which improves the team’s quality of work.  

Also, you should offer unlimited paternity and maternity leave so employees can take as much personal time off after their child is born or adopted. This shows you understand employees have lives outside work and you want to make it easier for them.  

Further, companies must prove they care about employee health. Do this by urging sick employees to stay home so they recover quickly and don’t spread the illness throughout the office.   

  1. Offer Development Opportunities  

Not sure how to show appreciation to employees? Then give employees personal development opportunities so they’re satisfied with their role.

Hand out personal development materials so the team can borrow books on areas they’re interested in. You should also offer training so employees can navigate the latest software and discover new ways to approach a problem.

It’s also wise to invite industry experts to share their knowledge and experience with the team so they’re inspired. 

  1. Provide Mental Health Support

Nearly 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety. This means it’s likely several team members regularly struggle with this in your workplace. 

Because of this, companies must support employee mental health by offering free counseling services so your staff has a place to vent. You can either hire a counselor to visit several times a week or use digital counseling services that employees can easily access. 

Also, you could invite a healthcare professional to talk about ways to improve your mental well-being during work.   

  1. Encourage Movement 

Create an environment that prioritizes your employees’ physical well-being so they stay happy, healthy, and motivated.

You could offer a range of activities like yoga or meditation to alleviate stress and the discomfort of sitting for an extended period. And don’t forget to brainstorm employee appreciation day ideas, which you should celebrate at least once a year, to show your gratitude.  

Companies should encourage cycle to work days as it’s a fantastic way to sneak in daily exercise before clocking in. Further, find ways to reduce being sedentary like installing standing desks. These are great as you burn calories and strengthen your leg, core, and back muscles. 

Or encourage fitness challenges to inspire encourage friendly competition and improve your team’s physical well-being. For instance, you could host a dance-off or see who logs the most steps daily.  

  1. Create the Perfect Workplace Environment

Your workplace’s environment has a massive impact on your team’s well-being. So add plants as they reduce stress while increasing productivity and creativity, the lifeblood of a successful company. 

Companies should also embrace natural light so employees feel alert and don’t experience eye strain. You can do this by hanging mirrors to reflect the light, use transparent partitions, and remove objects that are obstructing the window.  

  1. Set-up Volunteer Programs and Events

Volunteering is an excellent way for everyone to give back to the community, work as a team, and reap the mental health benefits of becoming a volunteer.

You should hold fundraising events or plan group volunteering activities. For example, your team could organize a beach or park cleanup, help out at a soup kitchen, or grow a community garden.  

  1. Offer Unlimited Vacation Time 

Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean your team will spend months sunbathing on a Caribbean beach. Instead, unlimited vacation time states that as long as employees meet deadlines, goals, and produce high-quality work then they can take as much downtime as they want.

As a result, employees will be more focused, produce better work, and stay at your company for longer. It’s a win-win!

That’s How to Promote Employee Well-Being

You now know how to promote employee well-being in the workplace. Companies should offer their staff flexible working hours, free counseling services, and fitness programs to elevate their employees’ moods. You should also optimize the office for productivity and offer unlimited vacation time to keep your team happy. Good luck!