Shining a Light on Underutilized Employee Wellness Benefits
August is National Wellness Month, offering the perfect occasion to reflect on how companies can better support employee well-being. While there has been increasing attention to workplace wellness, a surprising gap remains: the numerous wellness benefits available that employees often overlook. Let's explore these underutilized perks and how HR professionals and business leaders can spotlight them more effectively.
Empowering Financial Wellness
Financial wellness tools such as budgeting apps, student loan support, and retirement planning resources are frequently provided yet surprisingly underused. Bridging the gap between availability and engagement is essential. To address this, companies can offer workshops, integrate financial topics into regular communications, and actively promote these tools' relevance to personal financial peace.
Enhancing Mental Health Support
Mental health support through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provides crucial counseling services. Despite the increasing demand, many employees shy away due to stigma. To promote usage, employers can conduct mental health awareness campaigns, provide testimonials, and emphasize confidentiality to foster a more accepting environment.
Encouraging Preventive Screenings
Remarkably few Americans stay up-to-date with preventive care screenings, often due to lack of time or interest. Employers can increase participation by offering convenient in-house screenings, providing reminders, and perhaps even gamifying the process to make routine checkups more appealing.
Boosting Engagement with Fitness Reimbursements
Reimbursements for fitness classes and gym memberships, along with access to virtual classes, offer morale-boosting benefits. To spark interest and foster a sense of community, consider adding wellness challenges or competitions. These activities not only enhance physical health but also build camaraderie and team spirit.
Lifestyle Coaching for Long-term Health
From nutrition advice to tobacco cessation programs, lifestyle coaching offers various paths to healthier living. Yet, these programs are frequently under-promoted. By embedding information about these resources into regular employee communications, companies can keep these benefits top-of-mind for everyone.
The key to unlocking the full potential of wellness benefits lies in active participation. Just offering these resources is only half the battle; real value comes as employees engage with them. We encourage businesses to set up communication campaigns or survey employees to discern which benefits they need most.
By leveraging National Wellness Month this August, companies can strategically promote and enhance engagement with the wellness offerings that make a difference in their employees' lives.
