How to Promote a Culture of Wellness at Work

 


How to Promote a Culture of Wellness at Work

We all have been living in a never-ending pandemic and experiencing the longest transition to a ‘new normal’ while still having to ‘show up’ at work. Sociologist at Sandford University Marianne Cooper warns, “employers need to understand the employees returning to the office are not the same people who left last March.” 

In fact, behavioral app Ginger surveyed workers and found “69% of them said the pandemic was the most stressful time of their entire professional career”.

Last year involved sickness and shutdowns which galvanized people to prioritize their mental, physical, and social wellness more now than ever before. This year people have focused on self-care realizing the importance of wellness in their lives at home and at work.

Just do it, that’s what Nike did. They shut down for one-week, Matt Marrazzo senior manager said “it’s not just a ‘week off’ for the team ... It’s an acknowledgment that we can prioritize mental health and still get work done.” Mozilla, producer of Firefox web browser promotes wellness with twelve work-free Fridays, once a month, through 2021. 

I understand we all can’t shut our doors for a week and just the thought alone after a year like 2020, that’s the furthest from business owner’s mind. But what can employers do to normalize well-being and self-care in the workplace? 

1. Terminate workcations

Be honest how often do you really ‘unplug’ during vacations or holiday vacations? You probably leave the office with good intentions to disconnect but still check emails. When known a person will be out, make sure they are not called, texted, or emailed. That person decided to take time away from the office and that decision should be respected.

2. Allow mental health days

If your company can sustain it, allow paid mental health days. Work stressors in addition to personal lives can cause some people to struggle. Normalize acknowledging high pressure moments and encouraging employees to take a day to quiet their mind from work noise. They will come back relieved and grateful for a one-day break from adulting.

3. Tailor your approach to their needs

Find creative ways to understand individual circumstances and then offer solutions that align with their experiences. Employers should engage employees in a continual two-way dialogue that considers their specific needs, delivers personalized coaching, and provide them with a forum to share best practices with others who may share similar challenges.

Investing in a healthy workplace culture increases productivity and your bottom line because employees feel supported and want to show up because they are supported. We may feel the effects of COVID-19 for years to come, so for now or until whenever we should support each other.


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