Last week, we posted a blog about why your company needs a “second generation employee wellness program.” You learned how strong wellness programs save money, increase employee productivity, and attract top talent to your organization. But we may have left you wondering what these programs actually look like or how to implement them. What in the world is a “second generation employee wellness program” anyway?
Life-changing poster? No way
In all likelihood, you’ve seen a poster similar to this one in a break room at some point in your career. Add to this a pamphlet or two and maybe a yearly speaker who’d tell you about how you should eat better, and you’ve got a traditional wellness program. It used to be enough for companies to claim these simple actions represented their commitment to employee health. Not anymore.
Here are a few concrete examples of effective “second generation” employee wellness programs:
- Get in the gym – Provide an onsite workout facility for your employees or pay for a private gym membership. This is one of “the basics,” but it almost isn’t enough anymore. If you really want to get buy-in, pay your employees (with cash, benefits, vacation time…) to work out.
- No more McDonald’s – If you already provide meals for your employees, make sure that they are healthy and delicious. If you don’t, consider providing one or two healthy meals a week. Or host a cooking class periodically that teaches your team how to make healthy meals at home. If your employees know that you’re interested in their eating habits, they’ll be more mindful of what they eat.
- Ditch the car – If it makes sense in your location, provide incentives for biking or walking to work. Bicycle commuting is associated with happier, healthier, more productive employees, and it’s good for the environment too! A company here in Austin actually had a fleet of bikes custom built for their employees.
- Make it a game – Gamification is an excellent way to get employees engaged. Set up contests where employees can compete by acting healthily. Maybe give prizes for most days working out, or best healthy recipes, etc. Gamification builds camaraderie and can encourage good health.
- If you really want to take it to the next level, follow Google – Consider some of the things Google provides for its employees. They have nap pods so that employees can grab quick powernaps throughout the day. And like a handful of others, they have on-site masseuses to relieve physical and mental stress. Both of these have shown to lead to health and productivity gains, so it might not be as crazy as it sounds.
The litmus test: would you do it?
At the end of the day, the most important aspect of any employee wellness program is buy-in. So make sure you craft the kind of program that you’d like to take part in yourself. Employee health is a worthwhile investment, so be sure to get it right. Wellness programs keep your employees and your bottom line healthy.
