There’s been a paradigm shift affecting both the design and delivery of corporate wellness programs in the past few months. Instead of high-level behavioral change messages, companies have recognized the deep and long-lasting effects this pandemic has had on a largely virtual workforce. Lacking the human connection that has historically built corporate wellness cultures, employers are training their sights on building wellness benefits programs that are actionable and timely.

Here are a few top tools to help build a corporate wellness program that delivers just the support your employees need.

Whole-person resiliency toolkit

WELCOA’s COVID-19 Worksite Wellness Toolkits provide everything from employer communication strategy to at-home workout videos. Based on the resiliency portion of WELCOA’s Definition of Wellness, the organization defines the purpose of the toolkits as focusing on a “whole-person and whole-systems approach” to dealing with the mental health effects of life changes due to the pandemic shut-downs. 

WELCOA members have access to the full complement of tools developed in response to COVID-19, which are a great place to start learning more about teaching and supporting employee resiliency strategies.

Financial well-being assessment

Financial resiliency has also become a top priority for 69 percent of American workers polled in a July survey. Employers, also feeling increasing pressure to provide financial wellness tools, are responding. The Employee Benefit Research Institute delivered some eye-opening statistics and suggestions as part of a September 22 financial well-being symposium for the wellness industry. As high as 90 percent of employers report that they plan to implement or improve financial HR benefits in light of recent pandemic-related financial hits. 

Prudence dictates that employers first complete an employee needs assessment before launching what can be easily one of the most expensive wellness benefits. Use this Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial Well-Being Scale to assess employee concerns, refine HR benefits options, and offer what employees need most.

Virtual open enrollment AI support

Open enrollment can be a confusing time for employees, but artificial intelligence can ease the Q&A burden for HR departments. Since most companies host open enrollment through a member self-service portal, going virtual for 2020 isn’t much of a change. 

What has changed is that employees may need more help this year than ever before due to increasing interest in (and need for) wellness benefits. Explore software-specific AI tools in this 2019 article from the Society for Human Resource Management.

The ultimate wellness program resource

From research to design and implementation, corporate wellness programs must be customized to maximize utilization and engagement for your company’s employee population. That’s a monumental task, and one that 88 percent of employers seek out consultants to complete. For the last 25 years Aquila has been creating, managing, designing and implementing innovative health and wellness solutions for private and public organizations. Learn more about what Aquila can do for your wellness program by contacting us at info@aquilaltd.com.