The Corporate Wellbeing Industry

The corporate wellbeing industry is a booming, revolutionary industry that is highlighting the importance that focusing on the health and mental wellbeing of their employees and staff can be beneficial both to the individual and the company. Corporate wellbeing is paramount when tackling stigma around mental health concerns, and by introducing wellbeing programs, the individual employee can take comfort that the company is forward thinking in their approach to wellbeing.

Employers have begun to realise that recognising and introducing programs that put the employee first is fundamental to ‘not only protecting employee health, but actively boosting performance as well as social and emotional well-being.’ (Deloitte Insights)

Types of Corporate Wellbeing programs

Investing in a corporate wellbeing program highlights that the company takes the health and wellbeing of their employees seriously. Longevity is important and The National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) suggest that companies ‘adopt a preventative and proactive strategic approach to mental wellbeing at work.’ Whilst short-term courses or activities can be beneficial, NICE indicate that investing in long-term strategies have the potential to benefit both the employee and employer, highlighting to the individual that the company take the wellbeing of their staff seriously and are happy to finance them. Types of wellbeing programs can vary from day courses to lunchtime fitness classes or group activities. Companies can also benefit from outsourcing to external wellbeing companies that have trained professionals that come in who can provide workspace assessments, counselling via 1:1 sessions, smoothie bikes or employee health checks. (Joyful-Living.co)

Long-term programs indicate to the individual that the company take wellbeing seriously and are happy to finance them.

Tailoring the program to the individual needs of the company

GOV.UK state that ‘it is clear that wellness programmes vary among each employer based on a number of factors including job type, health issues, organisation size and structure.’ The focus and popularity of corporate wellbeing programs have increased, so have the variety available. Both the physical health and mental health of their employees should be considered. And most importantly, they can be tailored to suit the individual company. From yoga classes to nutritional guidance, finding what programs work best for the company is paramount in ensuring proper engagement from employees and ensuring that they get the most out of it. Joyful Living, for example, offer ‘bespoke programs’ that can range from ‘wellbeing workshops to fitness classes, mental health training, stress management, nutrition or team building activities.’ (Joyful-Living.co) With such a diverse choice, there should be something to suit every individual, whatever their physical state.

The benefits to the business of introducing wellbeing programs

The benefits of introducing wellbeing programs are multiple – a sense of unity, employees will feel recognised and supported, and any stigma around health and wellbeing should feel reduced. By indicating that health comes first via regular check-ins, activity days, and a focus on positive wellbeing, employees will feel a sense of community within the corporation, which, as NHS England state, ‘Driving a positive health and wellbeing culture across your organisation needs the entire workforce behind it.’

This sense of belonging and openness, indicates a willingness by employees to put their employee’s wellbeing at the fore. Simply put, by investing in wellbeing, employers are investing in their company.

References

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2018/employee-well-being-programs.html
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng212/chapter/Recommendations#strategic-approaches-to-improving-mental-wellbeing-in-the-workplace
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209547/hwwb-dwp-wellness-report-public.pdf
https://joyful-living.co/our-services/wellbeing-programmes-and-initiatives/one-to-one-services/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/health-and-wellbeing-programmes/nhs-health-and-wellbeing-framework/elements-of-health-and-wellbeing/professional-wellbeing-support/