Through the years, the corporate wellness industry has evolved to keep up with emerging trends to continue to promote health and wellness in the workplace. More and more business leaders and HR managers are starting to realize the grave importance of health in the organization. Simply put, a healthy workforce keeps productivity and quality of work in the company at an all-time high.
Now that another year has come to a close, existing workplace health programs continue to advance and new ones may arise this 2019.
Preventing Burnout
Pressure is a staple in the work environment, but too much of it can lead to burnout among employees. Thanks to today’s fast-paced world, workers are under more pressure than ever. In fact, a recent survey by Gallup has shown that 44 percent of employees expressed feelings of burnout in their jobs. And when this problem is not addressed appropriately, it may lead to lost productivity, more errors and more safety incidents in the job — which are all indirect costs incurred at the end of the day.To help prevent burnout in the workplace, managers should be able to identify and observe the common signs of burnout among employees. This includes working more hours than usual, irritability and mood swings, decreasing work quality, fatigue and isolation from others.
Self-Care is a Priority
The past year has listed self-care as a health-related trend, and it’s likely to continue into 2019 in workplace health and wellness programs. Promoting self-care in the workplace is one effective way of preventing burnout from work, managing stress and boosting one’s self-worth.There are different ways employees can practice self-care in the workplace, but employers also have the responsibility to promote and encourage it to all employees when they fail to realize its importance. Oftentimes, companies may encounter problematic employees, such as those showing a positive saliva drug test, which may be a result of a lack of self-care promotion in the work environment.
According to an article by Harvard Business Review, wellness programs can’t attain success unless there is a workplace culture that prioritizes self-care and with a willingness to change their health for the better.
Wellness Personalization
Wellness is subjective to each person. This means that everyone experiences different problems regarding their health, and to assume one’s problem as the problem of the entire team can lead to the failure of a company’s wellness efforts.Thanks to today’s technological advancements, organizations can make use of digital platforms that can help personalize workplace wellness programs. Before launching a specific program, for instance, sending out an online survey to the entire workforce regarding their health and wellness interests can help you focus on and target the actual problems at-hand.
Onsite Clinics
More companies have realized the benefits of installing onsite health clinics. In fact, the National Association of Worksite Health Clinics expressed that 50 percent of business owners with over 5,000 employees already have an existing onsite or nearby clinic, and it is estimated that the numbers will grow come 2020.Onsite health clinics actually help employees address immediate needs, especially in high-risk industries such as construction and transport, as well as help manage those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Onsite clinics should also be equipped with tools and medications that cater to their clients’ needs, such as a DS 100a SpO2 sensor and monitors for blood pressure and blood glucose measurements.
Health and wellness programs are not a one-time solution to a certain health situation. They need to be evaluated and revised time and again as different health conditions and wellness problems in the workplace arise each day. Aside from taking note of the current industry trends every year, it is still best to listen to your employees’ qualms firsthand to help identify their needs.