Enacting health initiatives could help improve employee morale, boost productivity, and reduce costs, offering small businesses a simple yet impactful way to enhance engagement and long-term success.

Over the course of leading your team, you’ve likely realized that their performance is directly tied to their physical and mental well-being. The more energy and confidence they have, the more focused and engaged they are, leading to higher production and better outcomes overall. So why not implement wellness programs that can help encourage your employees to take care of themselves? Though doing so may involve some costs, it could prove well worth the investment, serving as a viable strategy for long-term growth.

What is a wellness program?

On the surface, the term “wellness program” is relatively selfexplanatory: it is essentially any initiative designed to promote a healthy lifestyle among a workplace’s staff. Note the emphasis on “any”— there is virtually no limit to the number of wellness categories and program types to choose from. Consider these examples:

• Physical: gym membership reimbursement, on-site fitness classes, nutrition education
• Mental: meditation and mindfulness apps (such as Calm), stress management workshops
• Financial: lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs), financial counseling and planning

Other possible categories include social, occupational, intellectual, and environmental. Though these four may be less obvious in their benefits, they all contribute to a greater sense of well-being that may help your employees bring their best selves to work.

Key upsides

There are many ways investing in a wellness program can provide significant advantages to your organization, both on a micro level and a macro one.

Reduced sick days and health-care costs
Simply put, the healthier an employee is, the less often they will need to call in sick, whether due to a mentalhealth day or physical illness. In addition to fortifying individuals’ immune systems, fitness-focused and informative programs may help them reduce their risk or symptoms of chronic issues that may require more appointments, which not only take them away from their work but also incur more medical costs.

This benefit has been known for years. For example, a Harvard Business Review article from 2010 noted that Johnson & Johnson reported a significant decline in team members who smoked, had high blood pressure, and were physically inactive after the company launched its wellness programs—resulting in an estimated $250 million in savings on health care over the previous decade.

Increased engagement and efficiency
Heightened stress and anxiety can reduce focus and motivation, leading to burnout and, in turn, decreased productivity and more errors. Programs focused on mental health can help combat this by offering employees essential tools for handling pressure in both their personal and professional lives, enabling them to relieve mental fatigue. Even financial, social, and environmental initiatives can have an impact; the former may assist in easing challenges caused by monetary stress, while the latter two can offer uplifting experiences to create a sense of fulfillment. Prioritize these core factors, and you may ultimately cultivate a happier, more efficient team.

Better retention
Besides better output, such engagement can also increase the chances that your employees will stay put—many studies indicate that burnout is one of the top reasons for leaving a job. Further, health-focused initiatives demonstrate that you have an interest in their well-being, helping them feel valued and supported and inspiring greater loyalty to your company. The results are reduced turnover and the associated costs of hiring and training.

Starting a wellness program doesn’t require a massive budget. Begin with something simple, such as introducing flexible hours or encouraging regular breaks to refresh your team’s mindset, then build from there. Even small shifts in your company’s culture can lead to positive changes in employee satisfaction and performances.

TAKE ACTION:
Consider the needs of your workforce, and determine one or two small-scale wellness programs you could easily initiate as a starting point.