Between catching up on hectic schedules and beating deadline submissions, many people find themselves tirelessly pushing their energy and effort to the limit during the work week. 

Unfortunately, this can lead to but one experience: stress and fatigue.

Yes, this is a problem – and as a business owner, it’s YOUR problem.

Research from Zurich and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford reveals that employees today are looking to their employers to be more involved in looking out for their well-being at work. Employers are perceived to provide a high "duty of care'' after a global pandemic has reshaped the workplace scene.

There is a need for employers to extend a holistic approach to providing wellbeing to their team members. Balanced attention to a worker's physical, mental, and social condition is essential.

Supporting employee wellbeing should be a priority for every employer. It helps prevent stress, encourages people to thrive, and allows businesses to prosper, boosting productivity.

This May is all about Global Employee Health and Fitness Month. 

It's an opportunity for you to show your employees you genuinely care and value them by looking out for their overall wellness. We’ve gathered some great ideas and resources below.

5 Meaningful Ways to Promote a Sense of Employee Wellbeing:

Create a Fitness Program

Look for achievable health-related activities your employees can engage in, such as simple break time exercise movements at the office, an aerobic dance session after hours, or workout contests. 

There are many options to choose from, but what's important is to make it attainable for people to participate by breaking it down into short amounts of time or goal segments.

Each workout allows our bodies to release stress-relieving endorphins that boost our mood. It's a powerful way to restore one's relaxation or diffuse tension.

Offer Healthy Meals & Snacks

Providing healthy meal incentives or setting up healthy snacks during break time at the office will infuse nutrition into the workplace intuitively. You could even try doing a water-drinking challenge with your team!

What you eat nourishes your body, including your brain. For example, foods rich in protein increase dopamine and other brain chemicals that help keep you alert. Vegetables and fruits also contain mood-boosting nutrients.

Look Out for Their Mental Wellness

Having team members who show up with a good mindset, ready to work, benefits your company. Proper mental care also reduces absenteeism and increases productivity.

Practicing mindfulness and meditation together, letting employees attend coaching and counseling sessions, or preparing team-building activities are a few good ways to get started along this path.

Build a Healthy Work Environment

Creating a workplace culture can be challenging. Inspire, model, and encourage your team to share, respect, and care for one another. Form a safe and inclusive space within the walls of your office.

Employees will appreciate how you prioritize their growth by connecting with them beyond constructive feedback in 1:1 sessions. Having meaningful conversations alongside giving praise for their efforts can make a difference by showing you value them first as individuals and as workers afterward.

Strive to understand your employees' working habits, motivators, and needs. Doing this will help you develop the best opportunities to support them.

Provide Reliable Health Coverage from HealthChoice of Michigan

Promote physical well-being by enabling employees to keep better track of their health with medical check-ups that our Small Business Plans can cover. Plus, they’re covered in an emergency!

With a flat rate of $240 /month per employee, regardless of age or gender, you can afford to get the best coverage for your team with the least out-of-pocket costs. You can even offer an additional incentive for them to have dental and optical benefits.

HealthChoice of Michigan is a Wayne-County-powered program providing affordable health plans for Wayne and Oakland County business owners and their employees. 

We offer an extensive network of Metro Detroit's most respected physicians and hospitals. Our plans cover the basics, from annual check-ups to emergency care services.

Learn more about how we can keep you and your team healthy with our Small Business Plans at our website.