Did you know 83% of U.S. workers suffer from work-related stress? And one-fourth of those individuals say that their job is the biggest stressor in their lives.
May 17 is recognized as National Employee Health and Fitness Day, and while our mind may jump to physical fitness, this day is about so much more.
It’s about wellness and workplace readiness. It’s about preparing our teams for the moments that matter.
Prioritizing employee wellness not only aids in preventing burnout, but it improves daily productivity, employee retention and talent recruitment. And choosing to prioritize your team’s well-being doesn’t have to be hard. These five small steps will help you create a culture around wellness and readiness.
1. Implement the five- to 10-minute rule between meetings.
Somehow amidst the digital scramble that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, we tricked ourselves into thinking we could manage a full day of back-to-back-to-back meetings. The truth is, no one’s brain can handle that much stimulation without a break in between. Instead of hour-long meetings, encourage your team members to schedule 50- or 55-minute meetings, so there is some built in recovery time.
2. Incorporate “Mindful Mondays” into the work week with guided meditations.
Encourage your team to congregate in the conference room or lobby on a Monday morning and stream a guided meditation. Did you know you can find tons of these recordings for free on YouTube? Better yet, work with a local wellness center (like Wel at Humana) and invite a skilled instructor to come in once a month and lead your team in an in-person meditation. This session can set the tone for the week, allowing employees to clear their minds, and properly reset after the weekend.
3. Incentivize physical activity through company-wide challenges.
A popular program we hold for Humana associates located at our Waterside building is called “Walk-a-thon.” Through this program, associates are encouraged to walk as many miles as possible throughout the month. In our last session, Humana associates walked 983 miles, which is equidistant from Louisville to Houston, Texas. A program like this is easy to host at any workplace. Incentivize your team to move with bragging rights, free lunch or a cash prize! Log miles on a company whiteboard, internal Intranet, or employee group message.
4. Host a health fair to inform employee of their local options.
Another great way to promote health and wellness is through education. Engage with local vendors, nonprofits, or organizations in your local community and organize a health fair once a quarter for employees to learn about their offerings. This not only provides valuable information to your team, but it supports community organizations and helps build relationships with those around you.
5. Partner with Wel at Humana to offer a corporate wellness program.
Did you know Wel at Humana partners with Louisville businesses and corporations to offer its amenities and services to their teams? We do this through our corporate partner memberships. Through this partnership, your employees receive an exclusive monthly rate, a waived enrollment fee, and access to our state-of-the-art equipment, services, and more. If this sounds like something your company would be interested in, reach out to wel@humana.com today. We’d love to get your team set up!
