Did you know that while many companies tout wellness programs, most of them go unutilized because they miss the mark?
Research shows that although 87 percent of employees have access to mental and emotional well-being offerings, only 23 percent of employees use them. Recent Harvard Business School (HBS) article on the subject explains that the same pattern also applies to physical and financial well-being programs. Many companies are wasting precious financial resources on ineffective programs.
Wellness expert Dilan Gomih points out in the same article that what employees need most today is an energy boost.
“This means offering targeted and tailored solutions that address employees’ specific needs, including their physical health, mental health, emotional well-being, and their sense of purpose.” The HBS article expands that to support employees, companies should:
- Increase access to services that drive efficiency and save time. Examples include: childcare, elder care, career coaching, personal training, and therapy.
- Increase awareness of programs.
Don’t set it and forget it. Regularly highlight to the employees the services that are available and how the participation is valued by the organization. - Reduce the stigma around mental health problems.
Employers can empower employees to use the services by acting as role models and talking about using the programs themselves. - Listen to employees and focus on what works.
Audit what services are used and enjoyed by employees—and which ones have a higher return on investment. Continue investing in the programs that are working and cut the ones that aren’t.
Here at Courageous Being center, we are passionate about offering resources that support working professionals’ physical, mental, emotional, and energetic well-being. Our most recent response to the issues women+ face in and outside of the workplace is a new podcast Step into the Pivot.
With co-host Theresa Conti, our Chief Soul-utions Officer Ivana interviews people about pivots, intense and often unexpected life transitions when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders. Tune in for honest conversations with our guests about the well-being issues they have faced, learn how they walked into the pivot of their life and re-established their footing, and hear some poignant lessons they share that you too can apply in your life.
New episode of Step into the Pivot is released every Friday and the podcast is available on all major platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.