Businesses of all sizes are being impacted by the trend of corporate wellness programmes, integrating strategies to help create an overall wellbeing-enhancing experience in the workplace. Corporate wellness programmes also use incentives to increase participation and awareness. Let’s take a look at five trends that are helping shape health and wellness at the workplace:
1. Lifestyle Management: Finding time to workout or visit the doctor can be problematic in today’s hectic world. You need to rush home, make dinner, help your kids with their homework, clean the house, make time for your relationship and somehow get to bed at a decent hour; where’s the time for wellness? This is why more and more corporate wellness programmes are focusing on lifestyle management, and including efforts such as biometric screenings, flu shots and cholesterol screenings in the workplace to help you make time for your health. Such measures can help you prevent the risks for common, yet dangerous, health problems including diabetes, stroke and coronary disease – without having to leave the office!
2. Weight Loss: More companies are now offering free yoga, Zumba classes or individual workouts onsite or at a nearby facility to make fitness opportunities more accessible for those looking to lose or manage their weight. Doing your diet plan alongside your colleagues brings with it a sense of camaraderie, with your workmates encouraging you to keep going along to workout sessions. Moreover, companies that offer weight loss programmes tend to have vending machine options with fresh, healthy snacks, as well as fruit and veggies at meetings instead of unhealthy treats. With such a variety of healthy food options and fitness classes available, you have the opportunity to try several options to find the best fit for your lifestyle.
3. Redesigning the Workspace: In order to encourage you to become healthier, many businesses are rethinking the design and layout of the office. This may incorporate a variety of design options, such as fitting out desks with exercise balls or standing or treadmill workstations instead of chairs. Some employers offer anti-fatigue mats for employees to stand on while they work, while others give employees ergonomic telephone headsets and keyboards. Then you have wireless personal trainers such as BodyBugg and FitBit, which accurately tracking calories burned, steps taken, walking distance, etc to help keep employees in the mindset of fitness.
4. Smoking Cessation: It’s often a wise investment for companies to introduce smoking cessation programmes, which is why so many businesses do exactly that. Many wellness experts view such programmes as a necessity that provides a direct correlation with good health, helping employers to foster a healthier workforce. As an employee, you need motivation, social support, an understanding of what to expect and a personal game plan to increase your chances of quitting smoking, and many companies offer all of this and more. In fact, some companies execute smoke-free campuses, and even go so far as to avoid hiring smokers.
5. Stress Management: While programmes focusing on physical fitness have been proven to decrease stress and increase energy, mental fitness programmes are increasingly being recognised as equally important. The point of a stress management programme is to allow employees to dedicate a short time every day to mental fitness through volunteering, journal writing or even daydreaming. This, in turn, helps you to feel rejuvenated and more confident, which shows in your work and overall lifestyle. One of the strongest efforts being used to manage daily pressures is meditation, which many companies use as a daily tool to help employees cope with stress.