We kick off American Heart Month with a sure bet in workplace accountability: corporate wellness is here to stay.
In our coverage of the 2016 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, worldwide trends emerged suggesting just how vital a healthy workforce is.
Wearable tech giant, FitBit, emphasizes four major benefits for employee wellness programs: enabling a corporate culture of well being to thrive, providing employees with a productivity boost, eradicating future health risks and improving employees’ overall health, and encouraging higher acquisition and retention.
According to the 2013 Principal Financial Well-Being Index, 45 percent of employees agree that an employer-sponsored wellness program would encourage them to stay in their current employment situation—a 40 percent boost from 2011.
FitBit boasts a roster of partnerships including the likes of Adobe, BP, Box, Boston College, GNC, Autodesk, Printback, Redbox, Coinstar, McKesson, Diageo, Pega, Beaumont, and NetApp. Apple and Google are two other high-profile companies committed to workplace wellness.
Not every company has the abundance of resources at-hand to replicate these companies’ wellness departments. Outsourcing the work to a top-notch wellness team is another inspired way to keep your workforce fit.
Here some leading corporate wellness companies to help you put a spring in your step:
Weight Watchers has been the long-time gold standard for corporate health programs, but now offers accessible features to keep corporate clients seamlessly connected to weight loss, food tracking, and fitness goals in real-time. The costs of healthy guidance from trained leaders and face-to-face motivation can often be subsidized or reimbursed through employee programs.
Ceridian’s Lifeworks services and employee assistance adopted by Marriott International, Pier 1, Hormel Foods, Sodexo, Guitar Center, U.S. Bank, and Aeropostale focuses on improving employees’ focus, engagement, and productivity. Ceridian’s efforts place value on improving health before issues arise while creating world-class culture of wellness for employees …with diminished healthcare costs to boot!
You can also take a cue from these corporate wellness trends:
Kaiser Permanente encourages employees to track wellness goals, collaborate on group fitness challenges, and free or subsidized on-site fitness centers. The healthcare company also designed its cafeterias with Partnership for a Healthier America guidelines in mind. That means less sugar drinks and more locally and sustainably-sourced options.
Take a look at some of the recipes and get to know the healthier options available to you and your team, just by visiting AHealthierAmerica.org and signing up for their monthly newsletter.
Nike leads by example, with staff amenities featuring access to a pool, gym, stationary bikes, basketball courts, and a climbing wall.
The next step for your team could be simply offering discounted gym memberships, if you don’t work somewhere with an on-property gym.
Google can afford to provide employees with on-site physicians and nurses, legal assistance, and a free shuttle for Bay Area workers. Along with various physical fitness programs and plenty of campus gyms, the tech titan showcases plenty of healthy snacks under sleek glass jars in a gourmet cafeteria setting, while sweets and junky treats are tucked away in opaque containers.
Keep your desk snack stash options healthy! The more junk you store near your desk, the higher chance for absent-minded munching.
Apple uses the mindful application of meditation in the office as a corporate wellness tool to maintain employee focus and keep healthy sleeping patterns on track.
If your office lacks any private room or 20-30 minute breaks seem a bit out of reach for a daily practice, there are plenty fantastic apps that can do the trick if you have a set of headphones, a smartphone or tablet, and a comfortable chair. Our content marketing specialist personally loves the 3-9-minute long guided sessions on Stop, Breathe & Think and Headspace.
