In 2022, it’s clear that employees are looking for more than a paycheck. Given that we spend much of our lives working, it’s critical that we feel motivated, challenged, and supported professionally. Offer anything less, and you’re likely to discover that you have a rather high employee turnover rate.
One way that employers can help build a positive workplace culture is by offering workplace wellness programs. Such programs are designed to improve the mental and physical health of employees while also offering the opportunity to switch off from the stresses of work and improve professional relationships.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to what you might choose to offer as part of your wellness program. Just keep in mind that all activities, whether it’s a cooking class or corporate yoga in Mornington, should be accessible, engaging, and inclusive.
Stats on employee satisfaction and wellbeing
At the start of the year, everyone was talking about ‘The Great Resignation.’ Workers were apparently set to leave their jobs in droves, spurned in part by the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fast forward a few months and ‘The Great Resignation’ seems to have less of an impact than first anticipated. Australia’s unemployment rate just fell to 4 percent, which is the lowest it’s been since 2008.
Despite this, it’s still important for employers to invest in their employee satisfaction, particularly given the rise in remote work and the ease at which professionals can find a new job. It’s one thing for your workers to show up on time everyday. It’s another entirely for them to be motivated and engaged by their work. Telling stats on employee satisfaction include:
● Only 20 percent of employees are actively engaged by their work.
● Disengaged employees cost the Australian economy around $2 billion a year.
● 25 percent of all Australians take time off each year due to stress.
● Every $1 spent on improving employee mental health can achieve a return of $4 through increased productivity and decreased compensation claims.
What are workers looking for?
Understanding what workers are looking for in a job will help you structure your professional environment to best suit their needs.
Research shows that there is no one answer to this question. While pay was certainly once upon a time the most important factor, many employees are now happy to sacrifice a few extra dollars for improved work-life balance.
Other factors that can influence whether or not someone accepts a job offer include:
● Clear opportunities for growth and professional development
● Flexibility, particularly surrounding remote and hybrid work models
● Work that is meaningful
● Great company culture.
The latter can be achieved any number of ways, including through workplace wellness programs.
What is workplace wellness?
Workplace wellness is defined as any activity that supports healthy behavior and outcomes from a physical and mental perspective. Workplace wellness activities can occur as a one-off or as part of an ongoing, structured program.
If you’ve never implemented any type of wellness program before, you might find it takes a little while to get off the ground. Employees could express reluctance to participate or make excuses about workload. The key to navigating this is persistence and choosing the right type of wellness activities.
A great example is yoga. Unlike other types of physical activity, yoga is suitable for everyone, regardless of their level of fitness or ability. It also requires little to no experience, making it a great option for either a one-off activity or an ongoing program.
Yoga offers benefits for both your physical and mental health. Not only does the exercise improve balance, flexibility, posture, and lean muscular strength, but it provides the opportunity to engage in mindful thinking. Regular yoga practice has been linked to reduced anxiety and stress and improved sleep. All these benefits will ultimately improve employee morale and therefore work performance.
There are many studios out there that offer corporate yoga in Mornington. When searching for an instructor, ensure they have experience teaching corporate classes with diverse groups of people. Explain what you’re hoping to get out of your wellness program, and the teacher will hopefully be able to structure a program tailored to your needs. Try searching “yoga near me” to find a list of suitable studios and instructors.
Other wellness activities you might offer include team dinners, cooking classes, meditation sessions, walking meetings, nutrition workshops, trivia nights, a book club — really anything that will get employees moving or using their brains in different ways.
Good luck planning and implementing your wellness program — your employees will certainly appreciate the time and care!