Well-ness
/ˈwelnəs/ noun
A short-lived workplace solution intended to promote employee health and fitness
Well-Being
/ˈˌwel ˈˌbēiNG/ noun
A holistic approach to improving employees’ long-term emotional, financial and physical health and happiness
When companies think of corporate wellness initiatives, their immediate thought goes to gym memberships and fitness programs. But according to the University of Chicago, most workplace wellness programs do not live up to the initial hype for several reasons – they are often non-inclusive, there is rarely employee input, and most significant, they are single-dimensional.
There is more to an employee’s well-being than steps walked or pounds lost – a true well-being program is holistic, taking into account everything from an individual’s mental and emotional health to their financial security and social network and everything in between.
BreakWell’s 8 Pillars of Well-Being provide the foundation for your customized and integrated employee well-being program. Your BreakWell advisor will intimately get to know your organization and employees through an employee discovery assessment based on these pillars, survey employees to better understand how they perceive their personal well-being in each of these areas, and use the results to tailor your program to their individual needs while at the same time enhancing engagement, productivity, retention and employee-care.
When you truly focus on the employee experience and care for the whole person, there are so many benefits to the organization, your customers, and your bottom line.
It is time to ask yourself – How are you taking care of your employees? How are they taking care of your customers?
Physical well-being involves many aspects of life such as eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated. Focusing on our physical well-being allows us to get the most out of our daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. When employees are making good choices around diet, sleep, physical activity and relaxation, their risk for chronic health conditions drop, they are less stressed, and they are more energetic. On the employer side, that means less absenteeism, lower healthcare costs and increased productivity. By integrating physical well-being elements (such as a group workout, yoga classes, massage) into the work environment, you can help employees feel their healthiest.
Mental well-being addresses our ability to recognize and cope with the normal stressors of life to be able to work productively and meaningfully contribute to our world. Mental health has often been overlooked in the workplace, but it is fundamental to our ability to think and interact.
De-stigmatizing mental health in the workplace and addressing employees’ well-being with empathy, compassion and respect is what separates successful companies from struggling organizations. COVID-19 may have lit the fire, but social injustice, political division, and the fallout of all three have pushed employees who were already struggling with workplace burnout and personal stress to the edge. According to Forbes, 96% of CEOs say they are addressing mental health, but only 69% of employees agree.
By partnering with BreakWell, you can offer solutions that address the collective mental well-being of your employees while helping each person on an individual level. BreakWell provides access to mental health professionals, online stress management sessions, and workshops that create a positive mindset. Over time, employees can feel free to be open about their challenges and ask for help, while employers can work intentionally to assist individuals and teams to manage mental health.
Emotional well-being isn’t as easily observed, but the feelings that may be described are often synonymous with happiness, contentment, or the ability to understand and manage emotions. Our emotional well-being absolutely impacts our worklife, and if we try to separate it, we aren’t truly bringing our whole self to work. And ultimately, our work will suffer.
Employees are 13% more productive when they’re happier at work. Unfortunately, workers’ emotional well-being continues to take a hit as the repercussions of the pandemic rage on. In one survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 84% of employees reported feeling at least one emotion related to prolonged stress in the prior two weeks, including anxiety, sadness or anger.
Through a variety of accessible emotional well-being resources provided by BreakWell, employees gain a better awareness of their emotions and learn to process, manage and express their feelings in a healthy, productive way. Employees are able to release the stress that overwhelms them and change their behaviors to handle the unexpected with strength and resiliency.
Research finds that financial problems are employees’ biggest worry – above career, health and relationship stress combined – and 45% of workers say financial anxiety impacts their productivity at work. As employees prioritize greater financial security, they do not just want to work for an employer who pays them what they deserve; they want their employer to care about their long-term fiscal health.
Personalized financial planning and workshops led by BreakWell’s Professional Partner Network, which includes experienced advisors, can help employees navigate the complexities of budgeting, planning and investing to tackle today’s money challenges and develop strategies to meet their financial goals through retirement. When employees feel more financially secure and supported by their employers, they can be more engaged in their work and are less likely to search for a new job.
There are many drivers of career well-being, which is often characterized by personal enjoyment of work or a sense of alignment with values, goals or lifestyle.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, one in five American workers has considered changing careers, with millions joining the Great Re-Evaluation movement. Employees are not just looking for greater compensation and enhanced work-life integration – they are searching for new challenges, ways to maximize their talents and skills, and find opportunities that align with their personal values.
Employers should consider talent development programs that help employees better understand what motivates them, what they like and dislike at work, where they feel their talents may be underutilized and what kind of experiences, they are looking for to achieve their highest potential. BreakWell and our Professional Partner Network offer a wide range of career services, such as strategic talent planning and coaching, individual development training and resources, talent assessment, and more, so employees can feel fulfilled in their work – and organizations can retain the talent they need to succeed.
Occupational safety and health have really evolved in the last twenty years. You may think of workplace safety as being synonymous with OSHA regulations. But over the past two decades, employee safety has expanded beyond lifting with your knees and handling hazardous materials. It includes a sense of psychological or mental safety as well as physical safety.
Each year, two million employees are the victims of workplace violence, especially when employee stress and burnout go unaddressed. In addition, as COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, workers may feel unsafe returning to the office even with precautions or modifications in place.
BreakWell helps companies and employees identify and address unsafe behaviors to create a culture that prioritizes and rewards safety. In addition, we partner with experts to conduct safety workshops, ensuring employees are physically and emotionally protected in the workplace and at home.
Employees – especially Millennials and Gen Z – want to work for a company whose values match theirs. According to Gartner, when businesses are actively involved in today’s social issues and work toward positive change, employee engagement increases from 40% to 60%. For some employees, their passion may be climate change and sustainability; for others, it may be social justice and advocacy.
Retaining and attracting talent requires more than making a statement on current societal debates – employers have to take action. By learning and understanding what employees care about, companies can determine how to allocate resources toward a cause, coordinate team volunteer projects, and stand as a force for social good.
Learn how BreakWell can help your employees lead a happier, healthier lifestyle by contacting us for a custom demo today.
Social
When employees have meaningful relationships with their co-workers, friends and family, they have a support system that gives them a boost over any obstacle. Yet, if the workplace becomes toxic with gossip and exclusion, or as we’ve recently experienced, a worldwide pandemic isolates team members from each other, that foundation is broken. Fifty percent of employees have left a job because of office politics or toxic co-workers. And according to the Harvard Business Review, the impact of loneliness due to the pandemic continues to follow employees – even when they’ve returned to the office – lowering productivity and increasing burnout.
BreakWell helps employees build critical bonds through authentic social experiences that promote inclusivity and engagement, as well as grow their interpersonal skills with networking and public speaking workshops. In addition, our team of professionals and counselors assist employees in strengthening relationships with family and friends outside the office.
When co-workers are happy and connected, they have greater agency over the corporate culture and feel more loyal to the company.