Wellbeing Weekly

3 Minute Read

It’s easy to become complacent at work. People get comfortable repeating the same tasks, remaining inside their comfort zones, continuing to live, eat and play the same with little accountability, and feeling safe and secure being the status quo. However, this stagnation can lead to prioritizing stability over potential growth or new opportunities, including making better lifestyle choices or advancing at work. This is why incorporating incentivized challenges and behaviors into a workplace wellness program can not only encourage healthier habits but also increase engagement, performance and camaraderie among employees.

A wellness program provides actionable steps for employers and employees, which naturally creates more accountability. Rewarding participation also encourages growth rather than complacency and helps demonstrate a company’s investment in its employees.

As we approach Employee Appreciation Day on March 7, explore some common workplace wellness challenges and the strategies employers can adopt to address them.

1. Sedentary Lifestyles & Physical Health

In many workplaces, employees spend long hours sitting at a desk or in meetings, which can lead to physical discomfort, poor posture, and an increased risk of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease and back pain. Sedentary behavior is a serious wellness challenge that is not only detrimental to employee health but can also lead to reduced productivity and higher absenteeism.

Solution: Encourage movement by offering flexible break times and promoting activities like walking meetings, stretching breaks, or standing at desks. Companies can also implement onsite fitness programs, and develop challenges focused on nutrition such as a “Sugar Swap” challenge like substituting flavored sparkling water for soda, or a “Taste the Rainbow” challenge where employees incorporate a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables into their meals each day.

2. Mental Health & Stress

Workplace stress is one of the most prevalent wellness challenges, often stemming from heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and pressure to perform at a high level to demonstrate value-add, support family or feel financially secure. This can cause burnout, anxiety and overall poor mental health. Stress initially impacts the individual followed by the team dynamics, employee engagement, and workplace culture.

Solution: Promote activities and behaviors geared towards mental health such as encouraging work-life balance and offering outdoor or off-site meetings and adult coloring contests or mindfulness exercises. Workshops, webinars, or lunch-and-learns about stress management can also help. Leaders must advocate for a culture where wellness is integrated into the everyday work routine, rather than something optional, to increase engagement and buy-in.

3. Work-life Balance

Work-life balance is an interesting concept. For a lot of us, we spend more or a similar amount of time at work or working than we do at home or pursuing personal interests. As a metric for employee wellness that can impact both physical and mental health, work-life balance is a necessity; people expect their job to feed and nurture their well-being. Flexible work schedules, allowing employees to adjust their hours around personal commitments, can make a significant difference.

Solution: Encouraging employees to take breaks throughout the day, such as taking a walk or engaging in self-care practices, can boost productivity and reduce stress. Additionally, implementing wellness days or pressing for employees to take time off to recharge can help prevent burnout. By supporting work-life balance, companies can ensure that employees stay engaged and healthy, leading to better long-term outcomes.

Remember, wellness is an ongoing commitment. While addressing wellness challenges at work may seem daunting, small, intentional steps to prioritize employee well-being can lead to a healthier, more productive workplace. When organizations focus on improving physical and mental health, and overall employee satisfaction, they create an environment where people are motivated to do their best work.