According to the Factor Wellbeing 2023 study, 94% of organizations in Mexico are promoting some kind of workplace wellbeing initiative. This highlights the fact that caring for an organization’s workers in a comprehensive manner is not a fashionable issue; it is a real need for organizations that occupies their agendas. And doing so, in turn, is an investment in the success of companies, that is, an investment with a return. This is precisely what corporate wellness addresses. 

In this article we will address this concept: what it implies, how to measure it and how to enhance it in the company. Read on and find out more about this and more. 

What is well-being at work?

Workplace wellbeing – also known as corporate wellbeing, organizational wellbeing or corporate wellbeing – can be summarized as the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of a company’s employees. To be achieved, it must include measures to provide employees with a healthy and safe working environment, opportunities for personal and professional development, and emotional and mental support. More than a concept, it is a new culture in companies that places the worker at the center of the organization. 

The importance of well-being at work in the company

That the general well-being of workers is important becomes even more relevant in today’s society. Taking care of the physical and mental health of employees, making them feel valued and taking advantage of all their capabilities benefits each individual, the group they work with and also the company. 

If one of the corporation’s focuses is on employees and their wellbeing, this will help them with their physical, mental, emotional and mental wellbeing, allowing them to concentrate on their work instead of their problems.

The advantages of corporate wellness: how does it benefit the company and its employees?

Here are some of the many benefits of implementing workplace wellness in an organization: 

• It decreases stress and absenteeism.
• Work teams feel more motivated and this makes them more productive.
• Staff capabilities increase.
• Improves the work environment and personal relationships.
• Increases the value of the organization
• It serves to attract, retain and retain talent.

How to measure employee well-being in the company?

If we want to measure employee well-being, it is useful to apply clear indicators. Some of them can be:

• Employee feedback/ratings. It is relevant to ask for regular feedback from employees. Knowing first-hand how they are feeling is one of the best ways to understand how employees feel. 
• Productivity level. While there are several ways to measure productivity, one option is to focus on a single evaluation method or use different perspectives. In addition, you can compare your happiness index with the company’s success.
• Sick leave. Measuring sick leave is important because it can indicate the overall level of employee stress, burnout and exhaustion.
• Overtime. What does it mean when this indicator is high? It may mean that there is an excessive workload, that priorities are not well defined, that deadlines are too tight, or that there is poor management.
• Turnover rate. When employees are comfortable in their jobs, turnover is low. However, if this rate rises, there may be some generalized discontent within the company for various reasons, such as lack of professional recognition, excessive demand, salaries that are not commensurate with the work performed, among others.

How to implement workplace wellness in the company? The importance of creating a plan 

A wellness plan is, so far, a good way for companies and their employees. But how can the human resources area implement it? Here are some ideas: 

• Make an initial diagnosis. In this step you should collect information on the state of physical, emotional and social well-being of employees, and then analyze them. This can be done through surveys, questionnaires or individual interviews, for example. This will help you understand the specific needs and concerns of your employees.
• Areas to develop. It is time to identify the content to be used in the corporate wellness plan, which should address the development areas identified during the diagnosis. Some of these areas may be: emotional skills, physical training, personal finance, mental health, work-life balance, for example. 
• Define a model work wellness plan or program. It is necessary to have a model that covers the above areas and considers the different stages from creation to operation. This will include content design, human, logistical and financial resources, schedules, management indicators and impact measurements, to name a few points. 
• Generate concrete actions. Having defined the above, concrete actions can be executed according to the model chosen and covering the different areas identified. These include motions for work flexibility, adapting the physical space, promoting healthy eating, psychological care programs, encouraging physical activities, encouraging participation in workshops of different kinds (personal economy, sports, emotional, etc.), creating interesting content, promoting active breaks, and so on. 

What characteristics are essential in a wellness plan?

To achieve not only to have a wellness plan, but to make it successful, it is necessary to take into account some points or characteristics that you should consider, such as:

• Review the competition and their corporate wellness plan.
• Have achievable goals for your wellness project 
• Define who does what in your plan
• Always prioritize your employees
• Always communicate and monitor your corporate wellness plan.
• Make sure you are in compliance with the labor law

If you need to create and implement a workplace wellness or corporate wellness plan for your company or organization, Kilpatrick can help you drive this type of plan to drive benefits for your employees and for the organization, so that everyone wins.