Workplace wellness programs aren’t just about fruit bowls in the break room. They’re strategic investments in creating work environments that allow staff to thrive, and pay dividends in happy employees and productive businesses.
We know a thing or two about the impact of well managed work environments on staff, but don’t just take our word for it. Research from the Australian Productivity Commission shows that businesses with health and wellness initiatives observe a 10-25% increase in productivity. And a report by Medibank found that companies with comprehensive wellness programs experienced a 25% reduction in absenteeism and a 32% decrease in workers’ compensation claims.
Our General Manager of People and Culture, Jo Rigon, says happy, healthy employees are more likely to perform at their best and stay with their employer for longer, saving businesses time and money on recruitment.
“If people look forward to coming to work everyday because they feel comfortable in their working environment, that’s a big win for employers. This usually is a combination of many factors, including the physical space they work in, team culture, career fulfilment and wellbeing programs.”
“If people look forward to coming to work everyday because they feel comfortable in their working environment, that’s a big win for employers. This usually is a combination of many factors, including the physical space they work in, team culture, career fulfilment and wellbeing programs,” said Jo.
“The People and Culture team take great pride in supporting our team members’ wellbeing, to show them how much they’re valued and, at the same time, provide practical tips on how to feel better at work, and at home.
“We call it Wellbeing Wednesday, a weekly, companywide email that offers tips and pointers for a range of issues that can impact how you feel at work,” she said.
Previous editions have addressed topics such as:
🧘🏽♀️ Understanding and dealing with stress
🧑🏻💻 Checking in on desk ergonomics
🙆🏼♂️ Ideas for moving our bodies while we work
👀 Looking after eye health in a screen-heavy workplace
👩🏽🍳 Cooking ideas and recipes
All of our team members get a say on what topics they’d like to hear about, and we love the chatter in the workplace it ignites. It gets our people up from their desks and talking about their work environment in a positive way. Next up, we’ll be getting our yoga gear ready.
Source: Bellew, B. 2008. Primary prevention of chronic disease in Australia through interventions in the workplace setting.
