10 Ways to Build an Effective Employee Wellness Program

Employee well-being is important for individual and organizational success. When employees feel their best, they are more likely to contribute effectively to their organization. Plus, your workforce deserves to work at a company that prioritizes their wellbeing. 

Tom Smith, three-time "New York Times" bestselling author, said, "Leadership is the ability to facilitate movement in the needed direction and have people feel good about it." Implementing a successful employee wellness program, then, requires effective leadership and a company culture that promotes health and happiness.

Keep reading to learn ten key ways to build an effective employee wellness program.

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Health Assessment

Begin building your wellness program with a robust understanding of your workforce's health needs. Gather the information you need to build a useful wellness program through comprehensive health assessments. 

"Asking employees to fill out anonymized health assessments is the best way to find out what wellness incentives your workforce could benefit from," says Dr. Michael Green, Chief Medical Officer of Winona. "This survey should gather useful information without being too invasive. You can do this by including questions that ask employees what they'd most like to see from the program and how they'd like to receive information about it."

You should also collect data on lifestyle habits, demographics, stress levels, and existing health conditions. This information will serve as the foundation for a wellness program tailored to your employees' specific desires.

2. Define the Program Objectives

Once you're aware of what wellness incentives and benefits may benefit your workforce, incorporate those benefits into the objectives of the program. These objectives should follow the tenets of SMART goal-setting, meaning they should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

"Determining key objectives for any program is essential for its overall productivity," Thomas D. Hull, Ph.D., Chief Clinical Officer of Hero Journey Club, explains. "It makes it easier to measure your progress and ensure your actions are aligned with your goals."

Leadership across all levels of your organization, from the executive suite or board of directors to middle management, should determine and agree upon these benchmarks. Having a shared vision for the program maximizes its likelihood of success.

3. Build a Project Plan

Establishing clear objectives is just one part of planning a successful employee wellness program. You need to carefully consider crucial details, including the timeline and budget, before devising the overall pathway to project implementation. A detailed project timeline includes key milestones and sufficient lead time for communication and feedback collection.

"When it comes to budgeting, allocate resources strategically, considering the costs associated with program development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance," recommends Natalia Kuvelas, Marketing Manager of Custom Goods. "If you don't allocate funds mindfully, you may find yourself unable to enact changes."

Factor in expenses for employee incentives, wellness events, and any external resources or experts required. Finally, remember to regularly revisit and reassess the project plan, making adjustments as needed based on feedback, emerging trends, and the evolving needs of the workforce.

4. Provide Accessible Fitness Opportunities

Regular exercise is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Encourage physical activity by offering accessible fitness options to your employees. 

"Subsidized fitness opportunities don't just promote well-being among the workforce; they actually function as a great incentive to attract and retain talent," says Jenny Herbison, VP of Marketing at Craft Docs, a company known for their helpful virtual meeting notes template. "Promoting and providing access to fitness opportunities demonstrates that a company cares about its employees and wants them to be happy."

Subsidized gym memberships, on-site workout facilities, or organized group exercise classes can motivate employees to incorporate regular physical activity into their routines. This improves physical health, contributes to stress reduction, and helps increase energy levels.

5. Promote Mental Health Support

Physical health is just one side of the coin; mental health is a critical component of overall wellness, as well. Prioritize positive mental health among your employees by providing resources such as counseling services, stress management workshops, and mindfulness programs. 

"Business owners live in a time when conversations about mental health and mental well-being have entered the mainstream," explains Raja Subramanian, GM of Power Wizard. "Far from being taboo, employees and potential recruits will likely perceive implementing some sort of mental wellness component in your corporate wellness program favorably."

Create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health concerns and make sure that they are aware of available support services. Commitment from company leaders is vital to ensure that each member of your company feels mentally cared for, even in fast-paced industries.

6. Foster a Healthy Work Environment

Wellness shouldn't just be an action that occurs outside the workplace. Design your offices to promote health and well-being, such as by providing ergonomic workstations, encouraging regular breaks, and creating spaces that facilitate relaxation and socialization. 

"After seeing how work-from-home became so popular during the pandemic, offices need to offer significant ergonomic and social comfort to entice people back," explains Saad Alam, CEO and Co-Founder of Hone Health. "A strong wellness program should tie into the benefits you already offer in the office."

In other words, not only will a healthy physical environment contribute significantly to reducing stress and enhancing overall employee satisfaction, but it may also fill up those cubicles again. 

7. Commitment from Leaders

A demonstration of commitment from company leaders can play a pivotal role in the success of an employee wellness program. When leaders actively support and participate in wellness initiatives, it sends a powerful message to the entire organization.

"Company leaders should visibly incorporate wellness practices into their own lives," advises Titania Jordan, CMO of Bark Technologies, a company that offers a kid's phone with built-in parental controls. "This communicates the importance of employee wellness from the top-down and makes it clear that this program isn't just for show but is sincerely intentioned on your end."

Whether it's taking breaks for physical activity, participating in wellness challenges, or prioritizing work-life balance, leaders who lead by example inspire employees to follow suit. Their commitment to the wellness program can emphasize the significance that well-being plays in achieving a healthy, productive, and engaged workforce.

8. Strategic Communication 

Effectively communicating the components and benefits of the wellness program is essential to maximizing its success. Strategic communication through multiple communication channels, such as company-wide emails, intranet updates, and town hall meetings, will help foster maximum engagement and understanding among employees. 

"Just like any mindful marketing campaign, be sure to tailor your messaging to resonate with diverse employee demographics and emphasize how the wellness program aligns with both individual and organizational goals," suggests Andrew Chen, Chief Product Officer of CommentSold, a company that specializes in Shopify live selling. "Once you have accumulated data, you can highlight success stories or testimonials to create a relatable narrative that underscores the tangible benefits of participation."

Establish a regular communication cadence to keep employees informed about upcoming wellness events, achievements, and resources. This can also encourage feedback and create a two-way communication channel, demonstrating the organization's openness to employee input. By employing strategic communication, organizations can cultivate a sense of transparency, engagement, and enthusiasm, ensuring that the wellness plan becomes an integral part of the company culture.

9. Implement Work-Life Balance Initiatives

Key to your wellness plan should be recognizing the importance of work-life balance in employee well-being. This is especially important post-pandemic when many employees have become accustomed to more flexibility in where and how they work. 

"A healthy work-life balance helps prevent burnout, which tends to be underestimated in terms of how much it can impact productivity in the workplace," warns Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce. "You may not be able to offer fully remote work, but think carefully about other ways that you can improve the work-life balance of your employees."

Potential initiatives might include establishing policies that support flexible work schedules, providing remote work options, and setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. Encouraging a healthy balance between professional and personal life helps prevent burnout and fosters long-term employee satisfaction.

10. Gather Employee Feedback

Last but certainly not least, be sure to regularly assess the effectiveness of your employee wellness program by collecting feedback, both via data analytics and employee surveys. Metrics such as participation rates and health outcomes can be especially useful for determining what elements of the program are working and which can be cut. 

"Both hard data and direct feedback from employees can be useful for determining how well the wellness program is working," advises Datha Santomieri, Co-Founder and Vice-President of Steadily, a company that can help property owners find the best landlord insurance cost. "Distribute feedback surveys and have honest conversations with your employees about what's effective. There's no point in investing in a program if your workforce isn't actually going to use it."

Use this data and feedback to make informed adjustments and enhancements, ensuring that the program remains relevant and impactful over time.

The Benefits of a Happy, Healthy Workforce

The success of an employee wellness program lies in the careful integration of diverse strategies, a commitment to employee well-being, and thoughtful planning. By implementing the ten key strategies outlined and supplementing them with leadership commitment, organizations can foster a culture of health and vitality. 

"The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results," says Tony Robbins, American author and coach. 

It's clear that health and a happy workforce go hand-in-hand. Ultimately, by prioritizing employee well-being, organizations can cultivate a workforce that is not only healthier and more satisfied but also more resilient, leading to increased productivity and long-term success.