Top Wellness Trends For 2022

How to promote employee wellness and prioritize mental health when the traditional programs are not embraced

 

Mental Health and wellness will be especially relevant in 2022, as there is a renewed focus on employee wellness due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Traditionally, the role the employer and human resources played in employee wellness has been limited to the conventional Employee Assistance Program.  However, these programs historically have not been well utilized by employees. Moving forward, employers must find new and engaging ways to promote employee wellness and prioritize mental health when the traditional programs are not embraced.
 
Check out these wellness trends aimed at improving employee mental health in 2022:

When thinking about employee wellness, employers must first consider the needs of the employees. Wellness should be contextualized so the employer can meet the needs of the employee taking into consideration the demands the employees face on the job. For some roles, this may mean that the employer focuses on meeting the social and emotional needs of the employee. For other employers, this may mean providing job specific resources. Having the knowledge of what employees need can help the employer develop a communication strategy around employee wellness. Improving communication around wellness can then improve engagement with traditional well-being resources.

Corporate leadership sets the tone when it comes to employee wellness. When leaders prioritize their employees’ wellness, employees feel comfortable prioritizing their own wellness as well. Additionally, managers play a key role in employee wellness. Managers often have the largest impact on employee experience as most team members rely on their direct manager for organizational information and development.  

By creating an environment of trust, employees feel comfortable addressing their wellness needs with their manager. Managers can promote resources to employees and connect employees with organizational support, such as human resources. In an organization that promotes wellness, it is the responsibility of the manager to check-in with employees about their well-being.

Managers can coach employees on stress reduction strategies and must empower employees to speak up and prioritize their own well-being. When managers share their own stories related to personal wellness and how the organization has positively impacted their mental health, it increases employee awareness and reduces stigma.  

The organization also plays a key role in employee wellness. When thinking about employee wellness, it is important to consider the lifecycle of the employee. It begins by setting up employees for success with the onboarding process. Organizational competencies or values that focus on well-being are important. For example, promoting and coaching for adaptability and resiliency results in employees who are well equipped to navigate the challenges that they may face. Competencies like team orientation foster a healthier workplace that focuses on the success of everyone. This also promotes an environment where peers are focused on the well-being of others.

Ultimately, this allows the employee to better meet the needs of internal stakeholders.  Most importantly, wellness comes when the employer makes the workplace an inclusive environment. When employers promote this type of environment it allows employees to be their authentic selves and fosters a sense of belonging.  This allows employees to bring the best version of themselves to the workplace.

With the on-going “Great Resignation,” the competition for top talent is fierce. If corporate leaders are not focused on employee retention and engagement, they will find themselves losing their best employees. In 2022 and beyond, a focus on mental health and employee wellness will be paramount to corporate cultures that want to keep top talent, grow their business, and maintain a healthy bottom line.