It’s easy to list many benefits—to both workers and businesses—when flexibility is part of a company’s culture. What isn’t discussed as often is the way flexibility and wellness can, and probably should, work together to boost employee health and happiness while also building higher productivity and a more solid bottom line.
An Entrepreneur article comments on that flex work/wellness link, noting that people with flexible work arrangements often have healthier habits and may be more productive. As they gain more control over their schedules, their mental and physical health tend to improve.
“Preferences for when to go to bed, when to wake, when to exercise, and even when to eat can vary significantly from person to person,” the article says. “Many people do just fine on an office-hours routine, but others may find themselves waking too early to function or getting too tired to focus by the end of the day. Sleeping well, cooking at home, working out, and other aspects of health can get pushed aside by schedules that just don’t mesh.”
Flexibility is key to solving such problems, and so are employee wellness programs.
Here are seven specific reasons why wellness is important and how such a program could be a good investment for your business:
1. Wellness programs may improve productivity.
Discover a better way to recruit remote talent
Founded in 2007, FlexJobs is the most experienced remote & hybrid hiring platform.
- Unlimited job posts
- Low, flat membership fee
- Access top-level remote advice
- Unlimited resume searches
- Reach the right candidates
- And so much more!
According to another Entrepreneur article, healthy employees have the physical strength to perform better. “Healthier people have more energy, work more efficiently, and may even be more focused,” the article says. “All of these things affect individual employee productivity.”
2. A focus on wellness can enhance relationships.
The article goes on to say that people who are healthier also tend to be happier, which means they’re kinder, more supportive co-workers. Furthermore, wellness activities can serve as bonding exercises to create and nurture relationships among colleagues. This can be especially important when you have flex workers who are on different schedules or work in remote locations. Simple programs, like a contest in which teams of workers track their steps as they band together to reach a goal, can build camaraderie no matter when and where people work.
3. Wellness programs can lower corporate costs.
The Entrepreneur article notes that “reductions in insurance costs, fewer used sick days, and healthier employees add up. Wellness programs boast an average return on investment of about three to one.” Combined with infrastructure savings your company could see by offering flexibility, this again shows how such programs can work hand-in-hand.
4. A wellness benefit may help with recruiting.
The employees you already have should be healthier and happier when a wellness program is in place, and their improved morale will make them strong advocates when it comes time to find and hire new employees. When you have a flexible or remote workforce, it may be especially important to have your employees singing your company’s praises to potential new recruits.
5. A focus on wellness shows that employees are important to your business.
This goes beyond recruiting benefits. Just as offering flexible work options shows that a company sees its workers as humans, and not simply numbers on a spreadsheet, wellness programs can have a similar effect. As the Entrepreneur article says, “A company willing to spend time and resources on employee health is a company that cares about its employees. People recognize that and, in turn, feel good knowing their employer values them.”
6. Millennials want wellness.
Everyone is talking about millennials, since they now make up the largest portion of the U.S. workforce. The article notes that millennials want more than just a job, yearning also for personal growth, strong relationships, and good work-life balance. Both flexibility and wellness are part of that equation, and integrating offerings of both should help you keep these workers happy.
7. Wellness programs can keep remote workers engaged and motivated.
An earlier post on this blog notes that many apps and other online resources are available to help companies set up wellness programs that work for all employees, even if they are far from the corporate headquarters. “Employers need to communicate regularly, using communication practices best suited to reach their audiences,” the blog post says. “This includes emails, print pieces, social media, and benefits websites outside the firewall to make sure all employees—and their families—are informed about the wellness resources available.”
Wellness programs come in many different shapes and sizes, and at varying price points. Any well-planned and well-executed program, however, brings myriad benefits to both a company and its workers. And when wellness offerings are paired with flexibility, those health, productivity, and potential financial benefits can be even more pronounced.
Photo credit: bigstockphoto.com
Don't forget to share this article with colleagues!
