Making The Most Out Of Workplace Wellness Initiatives

Workplace wellness programs have started gaining traction as companies work to help their employees adopt healthier lifestyles, while cutting health care costs.

According to the 2019 UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey, 57% of workers said these initiatives have had a positive impact on their health. Here are a few ways to get the most get the most out of these programs.

Modifying lifestyle choices is one of the easiest ways to boost your overall health. Increasing physical activity with walking meetings, onsite fitness equipment and providing healthier snacks can help workers maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Providing monetary incentives for participating in wellness programs is another way to ensure workers make use of these initiatives. This could be in the form of discounts on gym memberships for meeting various health benchmarks.

Creating a sense of community focused on health goals is another way to help motivate employees to stick with it. In fact, the survey found that 57% of respondents said they were more likely to participate in a fitness routine if it was in a social setting.

Avoiding burnout to maintain proper mental health is equally important to physical health. Including relaxation rooms that encourage meditation or mindfulness can help reduce work-related stress, while boosting productivity.

To best implement the proper workplace wellness programs, employers should offer the tools that help workers meet certain goals. For example, if the employer has a no-tobacco policy, it would be wise for them to offer tobacco cessation resources.