Here, 8 business executives share their favorite workplace wellness trends and initiatives.
Culture of Caring
At LifeGuides we believe in enhancing a culture of caring. We all know that each employee has a life outside of work and life challenges are inevitable, that’s where LifeGuides comes in. By setting your employee up with a Guide who has experienced the same life challenges, you’re giving your employee all the resources and support to make it through the challenge and stay successful in their home life and work life.
Derek Lundsten, Life Guides
Health Benefits From Day One
Most companies require employees to wait for an extended grace period before they are eligible for health benefits. Our software company offers these health benefits to employees from day one. For a company like ours to continue our pace of growth, we need to attract the right people through unique benefits and perks. This doesn’t just mean a fully stocked kitchen in a one-of-a-kind office space. It also means taking care of employee health whenever they are in need.
Megan Chiamos, Cannabis ERP Software
Create a Health Culture
At our office, we have created a health culture. In fact, we provide lunch and learn workshops, free of charge. Lunch and learn workshops provide tremendous value. Health is our most important asset, yet so many people are not sure about how they can be healthier. Employees have the opportunity to learn about how to be healthy while munching on a healthy meal provided by us. They are taught the importance of good posture or ergonomics, exercise, sleep, stress management, and proper nervous system function.
Dr. Levi Nelson DC, Scottsdale Chiropractor
Win(e)d Down Wednesdays
I love Win(e)d Down Wednesdays. While not the healthiest initiative in terms of the food you’re putting into your body, I find having a time for employees to let loose once a month over wine and snacks provides a great mental reprieve and bonding. It’s an activity that we look forward to each month and becomes an act of self-care.
Hana Ruzsa Alanis, Solar-Breeze
Morning Meditation
Morning meditation is a great way to “center” the team and ease into a new workday. It is also another way to build team camaraderie and foster good communication. Daily meditation allows one to practice mindfulness, withholding judgment and being more open-minded. Meditation has numerous benefits and every individual benefits differently. Once a practice is established it is common to see team members periodically seeking a quiet space to quiet their minds and re-center their thoughts. There are many variations in mediation practice. Try different things and learn what works best for your team.
Leslie Meisner, Markitors
Focus on Mental Health
Mind Share Partners’ Mental Health at Work Report highlights that companies need to support mental health to retain talent (20% of all respondents had left their job for mental health reasons). Given this finding, we could assume that when company leaders become invested in their employees’ mental health, they would start to see improvements with productivity, reduced turnover, and even be more desirable for potential employees. One way employers have invested is by implementing Brain Performance programs on-site, which include sessions with elements of coaching, neuro-technology, and brain nutrition. Brain Performance programs have proven to increase executive functioning, reduce traumatic stress and increase the quality of life, in as little time as 30 minutes twice a week at the place of employment.
Keri Sitrick, Vitanya
Ditch the Junk
We focus on keeping healthy snacks in our office. We also make time to have walks during the day. Fresh air helps give us fresh ideas.
Vanessa Molica, The Lash Professional
Health Stipends
Give each employee the opportunity to select how he or she wishes to maintain their health. For instance, offer a budget and allow the employee to spend it as they choose. For instance, allot a $1000 per year spend. They can choose to use it for a gym or spa membership, or to purchase fitness equipment, etc. Give them the flexibility to spend the money as they choose, and more employees will likely participate.
Kelly Chapman, Kegelbell
