How to Create a Culture of Wellness in the Workplace

Creating a culture of wellness in the workplace means fostering an environment that encourages and

promotes the well-being of employees. Your employees are directly affected by the culture of your

company. Therefore, if you put in the effort to create and maintain a culture of wellness, there are many

benefits such as:

• Employee Happiness: Healthier employees are happier, which can lead to increased job satisfaction, higher retention rates, and positive workplace morale.

• Increased Productivity: An environment that stimulates a healthy body and mind will contribute to a more effective and efficient workplace.

• Less Stress: Overly stressed employees can be costly for many companies because it leads to a major loss of productivity, more sick leaves, and potentially higher insurance rates if employees are needing to use more of their benefits to counter the negative health effects of stress.

With those benefits in mind, here are 6 steps you can implement to achieve a culture of wellness in your

workplace:

1. Develop a Wellness Program

A wellness program can include activities such as fitness challenges, healthy eating initiatives, mental

health resources, and stress management programs. The program should be tailored to the needs and

interests of employees and designed to be inclusive and accessible to all.

2. Encourage Healthy Behaviours

Encourage healthy behaviours by providing standing desks or ergonomic chairs to promote good

posture, supplying healthy food options in the lunchroom, promoting physical activity such as walking

meetings, and providing stress reduction resources such as weekly yoga or meditation sessions.

Furthermore, urge employees to take breaks and stretch throughout the workday.

3. Lead by Example

One of the leading drivers of employee wellness engagement is whether employees believe that their

leaders care and are concerned about their well-being. To demonstrate their care, leaders should

continually show concern for employees' well-being, align workplace practices and policies to enhance well-being, and lead by example by taking their breaks, demonstrating healthy eating habits, and personally participating in wellness initiatives.

4. Foster a Supportive Environment

Create a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental and

physical health needs. Encourage open communication and provide resources such as Employee

Assistance Programs (EAPs) for employees to seek help if needed. Celebrate successes and provide

support for potential setbacks.

5. Evaluate and Adapt

Regularly evaluate the wellness program and adapt it to the changing needs and interests of employees.

Solicit feedback from employees through surveys and make changes based on their input. Keep track of

the success of the program, such as reduced healthcare costs and increased employee satisfaction, to

justify continued investment.

6. Provide Opportunities for Learning

Provide opportunities for learning about health and wellness, such as workshops or training sessions.

This can include topics on healthy eating, stress reduction, and mental health. Workplaces can also offer

wellness webinars that employees can attend to learn simple steps to improve their overall wellness at

work and home, such as the Mindfulness for Working Professionals series provided by FreshTalk

Wellness. Additionally, encourage employees to continually share their knowledge and experiences with

one another.