Every corporate wellness consultant wants employers to understand a few facets of their company’s readiness for an engaging wellbeing program. Employers understand that now, more than ever, wellness programs add value for employees and can improve population health metrics, reduce healthcare costs, and contribute to feelings of greater job satisfaction and loyalty. Consider these five elements of workplace culture, and you’ll see greater engagement and efficacy when adding or expanding employee wellness programs.

Secret 1: Focus on culture and ownership first

Many workplace wellness efforts fail because the company culture doesn’t place enough value on workplace health. If your employees believe that taking time for self-care in the form of mental health breaks and fitness will been seen negatively by supervisors, some education may be in order.

Increase workplace wellness engagement by first creating a management culture that values health above profits or productivity. The two go hand-in-hand.

Secret 2: Know what services your population will use

Instead of following trends, ask your employees what services they use and which ones they would find most useful right now. A recent JLL workforce preferences study revealed that 48 percent of remote workers feel a heavy mental burden trying to balance work and home life. 

Survey your on-site, hybrid, and remote workers to find out how wellness benefits can help ease that burden. Focus on employee-led discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and you’ll have greater insight into which programs would be most valuable for your population.

Learn more about how Aquila corporate wellness consultants provide customized wellbeing solutions that maximize engagement.

Secret 3: Address known work issues first

Another benefit of regular employee surveys is identifying workplace challenges that contribute to stress. If expectations at work are unrealistic or place undue pressure on employees to perform despite staffing or infrastructure insufficiencies, address those issues before offering wellbeing programs. Otherwise, they’ll be seen as platitudes without real substance, and engagement in employer-sponsor wellness programs will suffer.

Secret 4: Live the wellness message everywhere

A company that places value on employee health and safety at every turn is more likely to have greater population engagement in wellness programs. Establish a healthy workplace focus every day and you’ll send the message that health is important and more valuable than the corporate bottom line.

If employees don’t feel safe at work, how can they focus on the latest step challenge or Zoom yoga? Let them know how you’re keeping them safe and healthy at every turn. Live it!

Secret 5: Trendy wellness benefits may not work for your team

At Aquila, we keep up with wellness benefit trends, but our consultants won’t always recommend them for every employer site. Some office environments are ready for meditation pods or meal delivery services. But, if trendy benefits are added at the expense of a great Employee Assistance Program that employees use, that’s not a good trade-off. Stay ahead of real population needs instead of chasing the latest wellness fads.

Aquila corporate wellness consulting can help

Aquila corporate wellness consulting focuses on increasing employee engagement for more successful wellness programs. Offer the best solutions for your employees by partnering with Aquila for a customized wellness solution.

Trust Aquila’s more than 25 years of experience providing corporate wellness consulting, program design, and management. Contact us today to learn how Aquila can help your corporate wellness program provide real health value for your employees.