Creating A Winning Employee Wellness Program For Your Small Business

While some believe that wellness programs are only suitable for big companies that employ hundreds of people, small businesses can also reap various advantages by implementing such programs.

To succeed, small businesses must provide their employees with a collaborative, motivating, and safe workplace. This applies whether employees work entirely on-site, fully remotely, or a combination of the two. One effective strategy for promoting such an environment is implementing employee wellness programs.

But what are employee wellness programs? Why is it important? What are the benefits, and how do you implement it with a limited budget?

In this article, we’ll answer all these questions and more.

Employee wellness programs are designed to promote and improve the health and well-being of company employees. These wellness programs are an effort by employers to help their employees lead healthier lives and overcome any specific health-related issues they might be dealing with.

Various programs are available that promote better health, such as those that encourage physical activity, counseling, meditation, help one quit smoking, manage diabetes, and more.

In addition, employers may provide compulsory employee training, staff seminars led by experts in the field, or enlist third-party providers offering various wellness programs tailored to individual needs.

Wellness programs are essential for employers and employees alike, as they help to foster a supportive and healthy workplace. They allow staff to combat stress, create work-life integration, manage health conditions, and practice self-care to enable them to perform at their highest level.

Healthy employees are found to have improved productivity and reduced turnover compared to their unhealthy coworkers. This means that healthy employees can produce 140 “effective working hours” monthly, and the least healthy can only produce 45, which is 3.1 times lower.

An employee’s absence due to illness can result in almost six times the loss of productivity in a year. Furthermore, employees who come to work but cannot concentrate due to their own or their family member’s illness (known as “presenteeism”) can cause nearly 8 times reduced productivity.

Presenteeism causes more productivity losses than both absenteeism and medical disability combined.

Furthermore, having an accessible wellness program can be a great recruiting tool, as 87% of prospective workers consider health and wellness offerings when choosing an employer. Companies with well-run wellness initiatives often stand out among competitors and have access to larger talent pools.

Ultimately, by investing in your team’s well-being, you are investing in the future success of your business.

It can be difficult for small businesses to devote significant funds to employee wellness programs due to limited resources. Nevertheless, realizing that employees’ well-being can significantly impact a company’s success is essential.

If you invest in your employees’ wellness, it shows that you care about their overall well-being. This can be achieved by providing resources and support for their physical and mental health, creating a positive work environment. Employees feeling cared for can lead to higher morale and engagement.

Promoting wellness programs, physical fitness, stress management, and work-life integration can enhance employee performance efficiency. This can result in better business outcomes as productivity improves.

Healthier employees are generally more productive since they have better rest, have more energy, and are more motivated to perform their duties to the best of their ability.

Employees who participate in workplace wellness programs are more likely to prioritize healthy practices, such as exercise, which is proven to enhance sleep and boost productivity in the office.

Small businesses face difficulties in keeping their employees due to having restricted resources. Nonetheless, an effective wellness program can be advantageous for drawing in and holding onto the talented staff.

When a small business values the well-being of its employees, it creates a supportive environment that boosts job satisfaction and reduces the rate of employees leaving.

As per Fast Company, satisfied employees tend to have better sleeping habits, leading to healthier choices such as eating healthy and exercising. This also leads to increased focus at work since stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol don’t often affect them. Instead, they experience positive hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which can boost productivity.

Apart from the salary, workers also consider other benefits a company provides its employees. A significant percentage of candidates deem wellness programs essential benefits a company provides. Specifically, around 54% of Gen Z and 58% of millennials view company wellness programs as extremely important in their job decision-making process.

Investing in employee wellness can lead to cost savings for small businesses in the long run, even with limited financial resources. When employees are healthy, it reduces healthcare costs and less absenteeism.

Additionally, when employees feel supported, they are more likely to stay loyal to their organization, leading to savings associated with recruitment and training.

As a small business owner, you understand the importance of caring for your employees. Not only is it good for morale and productivity, but it’s also essential for keeping your team healthy and engaged in their work. A wellness program can help accomplish all of this – if done right.

Creating an effective wellness program takes planning, dedication, and resources. But don’t worry – we are here to guide you through the process!

By following this detailed guide, you can create a successful wellness program for your small business that will benefit your employees and improve your business in the long run.

The first step in creating a successful wellness program is to determine the needs of your employees. It’s best first to ask these questions:

• What do they need and want from a wellness program?
• Do they need help managing stress?
• Are they looking for ways to stay active during the workday?

Get feedback from your team and use that information to develop a plan that meets their needs. This will ensure that your wellness program is tailored to your company, making it more likely for them to participate and benefit from it.

Next, you need to define the scope of your program.

• What topics and activities will it cover?

It’s important to ensure the program is relevant to your employees and provides them with quality resources. Include various activities such as physical exercise, nutrition education, mental health support, and access to healthcare professionals.

After determining the needs above, it’s time to set a budget for your program.

Setting a budget can help you achieve your long-term financial goals and avoid overspending. This is essential for ensuring you can provide the resources to make your wellness program successful.

To do this, you need to conduct the following:

• Determine Savings: Create a spreadsheet to calculate the projected cost savings of a wellness program for the short and long term. Consider healthcare expenses, insurance premiums, and absences, all of which should be factored in as the program is implemented.
• Calculate Gains: Calculating all the financial gains your company will receive, not just the savings, is essential. These gains are typically found in increased productivity and efficiency.
• Consider What to Cut: If your company is facing financial constraints, it may be helpful to review your priorities. Consider reducing the number of annual parties from two to one, and reconsider the value of cost-intensive retreats. Consider how much a wellness program will financially benefit you when evaluating.
• Start Small: Don’t attempt to do everything at once. Start small and build your program gradually as you become more comfortable with the process and receive employee feedback. Even if you can’t give away large memberships, showing support can be as simple as contributing ₱1,000 towards monthly gym fees.

The wellness program is only effective if it is easy to participate in. While not everyone may choose to participate, accessibility should be prioritized. Consider offering different levels to cater to both beginners and seasoned fitness enthusiasts.

Make sure to include practical and simple activities during the workday – such as walking meetings, stretching breaks, or healthy snack options.

Leadership is critical to a successful wellness program. As a business owner, you should actively participate in the program and serve as a role model for your employees. Show them you care about their well-being by participating in the activities or leading group meetings.

Ensure also to communicate the importance of regularly caring for their health and wellness. Your employees will likely follow your lead if you demonstrate its importance.

It’s essential to keep your employees engaged and motivated. Try experimenting with different activities and see which ones work best for your team. Consider offering a variety of activities such as walks, yoga classes, healthy cooking demonstrations, or meditation sessions.

Find out what excites your team, and focus on those activities. This will keep them motivated and more likely to participate in the program over time.

It’s crucial to ensure your employees understand the goals and objectives of the program. Make sure messages are clear, concise, and communicated frequently. Share success stories or testimonials from employees who have benefited from the program to keep everyone motivated.

You can communicate your wellness programs to your employees in several ways, including emails, social media, newsletters, flyers, webinars, posters, or company events. It is worth noting that some channels may work better for certain audiences or messages than others.

It’s essential to get feedback from your employees about the program. This will help you ensure it is effective and meets their needs. Ask them what they like and dislike, and get suggestions for improvement.

You can get feedback through multiple methods, such as:

• Surveys
• Text Messages
• Emails
• Interviews
• Focus Groups
• Social Media
• Website Analytics

This approach encourages Radical Candor, which means expressing your thoughts honestly and respectfully considering the person you’re addressing.

Finally, consider offering incentives for healthy behavior. This could include rewards or discounts to encourage employees to participate in the program. It will make them feel appreciated and motivated to stay healthy.

Other benefits of giving incentives include the following:

• Increases employee engagement
• Improves productivity
• Greater loyalty to the company
• Enhances job satisfaction

With so much on your plate, we understand why creating a wellness program may seem daunting. But don’t worry – with these simple steps; you can build a thriving wellness program for your small business that benefits everyone involved.

When developing a wellness program for your small business, it’s crucial to consider your employees’ needs, likes, and constraints. Utilizing Sprout Wellness could be beneficial in putting into practice wellness programs for your small business.

Below are opportunities that companies can take advantage of with Sprout Wellness:

Sprout Wellness simplifies the process for businesses to organize and schedule activities and events. Wellness offers a Leadership Training Series, which includes workshops and webinars. Clients can choose their preferred schedule and topics and decide whether it will be one-day facilitation or multiple sessions.

Not only does Sprout Wellness make it easy to plan your program, but it also makes tracking employee participation a breeze. Clients can request program evaluations to see the effectiveness of wellness programs and activities.

The evaluation includes analytics and examines participation rates and overall impact. By having these perks, you can quickly see how many employees have participated in each activity and measure the impact of each program.

Sprout allows you to get real-time feedback from your employees. Through Sprout’s Pulse surveys, managers can quickly gauge employee sentiment on various wellness activities. The surveys cover physical and mental health, lifestyle, and work environment.

This is a great way to ensure that the program meets its goals and creates an environment of well-being for all team members.

Group activities are a great way to engage your team in a fun and interactive way while promoting healthy behaviors. Sprout Wellness provides various services, including meditation, yoga, and individual coaching sessions. These services can be easily scheduled online through the dashboard.

This fosters an environment of teamwork where all employees can work together towards achieving their wellness goals.

When it comes to mental health, you don’t want to miss a beat. That’s why it’s essential to make sure you comply with the Mental Health Act to ensure that your organization is protecting and promoting the safety of all employees.

With Wellness, Sprout can help your company draft a mental health policy that complies with DOLE’s Mental Health Act. This policy contains guidelines for identifying mental health concerns, providing resources and support, and fostering an environment encouraging employees to seek assistance when necessary.

It will also outline employees’ and managers’ mental health rights and responsibilities that can positively change the culture within your organization.

To help your team thrive in their roles, small businesses need to offer customized expert guidance and support. Sprout Wellness provides counseling services that offer both 1-on-1 and group sessions with options for psychology and psychiatry consultations.

These counseling services aim to provide employees with a safe and non-judgmental space to discuss their feelings, thoughts, and experiences.

Investing in a wellness program should not be a want but a necessity.

As a small business owner, providing your employees with tailored wellness programs can make a huge difference in their lives and your business. A well-crafted approach to promoting and maintaining good health will result in a happier, healthier, and more productive workplace.

Besides demonstrating care and support towards your staff, wellness programs can also be a strategic decision resulting in long-term cost savings.

By investing in Sprout Wellness, you are investing in the success and sustainability of your small business, which will help you to grow and become your best version.