Cost-Effective Well-being Initiatives For Your SME

8 tips to create a holistic well-being program in your organization

Well-being is a prominent topic today. Studies are outlining the benefits of introducing holistic well-being programs. Yet, some companies still fear the apparently high cost and time commitments. With rising medical bills, often due to poor lifestyle chooses, and increased presenteeism, can your company really afford not to implement a well-being strategy?

 

The trend from wellness activities has evolved to a holistic well-being approach over the years. Well-being is more than just the physical wellness and the rounded approach looks also at other components like financial health, emotional health and spiritual health.
 
CEOs see the impacts of a well-defined well-being program. Gallup’s 2017 State of the Workplace study found an increase in engagement, leading to a 41% drop in absenteeism and an increase in sales and profitability by 20% and 21% respectively. Now, these are figures every business dreams about!
 
Although thought as being more flexible, SMEs often struggle to create and roll out a well-being plan. Financial and people resources are just not there is a common comment by small business owners. We have eight tips to implement a targeted and cost-effective well-being program in your SME!
 

All too often, companies rush into copying someone else’s well-being initiatives without thinking how these would fit into their very own organization. Take some time to reflect and define the overall objectives for your company. Are you looking to reduce your medical claims? Or do you want to use well-being as an attraction and retention tool?
 
Listen to your employees and what they are looking for. Is this something your organization wants to pursue? Misaligned priorities and unmanaged expectations can quickly stop any great scheme from take-off!
 

We see boring offices with poor ergonometrics all the time and it’s not surprising their employees are experiencing back pain. Setting up work areas with back-supporting chairs, providing laptop users with a docking station and a large screen and having adequate light in the office are simple changes with long-lasting impacts.
 
Bringing nature into the office by decorating with plants of different sizes, creating different moods by applying various colors and engaging the senses by having different textures (e.g. a wooden keyboard) increases creativity and productivity.
 

Review the food and drinks you provide to your employees and help them make smarter food choices. It’s okay to have cake for special occasions (e.g. birthdays or anniversaries), yet, consider replacing sugary items with fruits or nuts. If you are providing lunch (or other meals), source from healthier restaurants and educate employees on the nutritional values. A trained nutritionist, often arranged by your health insurer at a small or no fee, can share their tips on healthier cooking and food substitutes.
 

Sitting is the new smoking. Why not encourage your employees to take the stairs instead of the lift and turn it into a stair challenge, where the fastest climber or team of climbers wins? Conduct walking meetings or have a walking club during lunch. Set up a table-tennis table in your kitchen area or social room.
 
It’s amazing how competitive individuals can become. Using fitness trackers, you can hold monthly challenges amongst your teams. Taking it one-step further, organize challenges with your clients or companies within your neighborhood.
 

As employees often have to do more with less or face tight deadlines, stress can become a common reoccurrence. Your employees can become more resilient by applying mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques. Increasing their own self-awareness and realizing their stress triggers helps employees to take actions before experiencing overwhelming stress.
 
Training employees and teams on realistic time management, prioritizing work and organizing their workspace, files and tools are small activities resulting in big improvements. A NAPO or POC productivity expert can review your work processes, identify waste, and provide hands-on solutions for increased efficiencies.
 

With the rising cost of living, many employees are feeling the punch. At the same time, more and more adults don’t have the appropriate financial skills to manage everyday financial tasks.

An independent financial advisor can provide financial support and educate.They can cover basics like setting up monthly budgets in group sessions and discuss ways to get out of debt and long-term (retirement) planning in individual meetings.
 

Traffic jams are a regular reoccurrence in the daily commute and can contribute to a stressful start into the day. Introduce flexible working schedules (with or without core hours) to allow employees to avoid such traffic jams or to drop off/pick up their children at school. Working from home can be another way to increase employees’ productivity. Offer (temporary) part-time schedules, which are especially appreciated by mothers returning to work after pregnancy.
 

Successful well-being programs become sustainable when they are engrained into the organization’s culture. The different activities can’t be a once off but need to be continuous. Use your company newsletters, staff or town hall meetings or social media as ways to communicate your well-being program. As a business owner, share your daily struggles just like achievements (after all, it’s a journey).
 
Creating a holistic well-being program doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or require a full-time team. These tips can fit everyone’s budget and can grow with your organization. Make your well-being program part of your competitive advantage and enjoy the benefits of highly engaged employees, generating increased sales for your organization.