Creating effective workplace programs for employee health and happiness
When we speak about wellness in the workplace, it is important to consider both physical and emotional wellness. Your mind and body share a closer association than you think. Remember the last stressful day at work and how it made you feel? When you encounter a challenge, your body equally reciprocates it by using its fight or flight mechanism. A fight or flight mechanism is your body’s response to a challenge in which it either prepares you to fight with the situation or prepares an escape plan to avoid facing the challenge altogether. This mechanism is helpful only sometimes, but at other times, it is effective to equip yourself with skills of emotional management and resilience that enable you to deal effectively with the challenge at hand.
Your organization and the employees can benefit a great deal by implementing workplace wellness programs. These programs are usually provided by Mental Health Service Providers and Mental Health Professionals facilitate these programs. These can include informative sessions, stress buster sessions, fun games, and activities, ongoing counselling sessions, and webinar series for your personal development. A wellness program is going to vary based on your organization’s and employee needs therefore it is best to conduct a need analysis survey with your employees first. It will help in designing the programs so that you can optimize the results.
Offer flexible work arrangements:
Employees appreciate the provision of flexible work arrangements as it allows them to have better control over the situation and create a work-life balance. Allowing flexibility with timings or mode of work whenever possible results in building better understanding and trust with your employees.
Create an environment of trust and inclusivity:
Multiple elements like the design structure of the office, the hierarchical structure, and the diversity found across different teams can speak a lot about your organization. Make sure to acknowledge and appreciate the uniqueness every employee brings to the team. It is also very important to use vocabulary that reflects mutual respect and provides inclusivity—for example, using words that are gender-neutral or creating policies that are fair to every gender.
Certain activities are best conducted by Mental Health Professionals.
Journaling your feelings away to declutter your mind:
Journaling is one of the best activities where employees who are introverted and prefer doing things by themselves can also feel comfortable and at ease. The facilitator usually asks participants to carry a journal/ piece of paper and pen thus it also provides a buffer from the constant digital overload. Journaling is a great way to introspect about your feelings, put labels on them, and articulate your thoughts. This is a great way to distress and also creates a healthy practice of getting in touch with your emotions.
Yoga for wellness:
Practising Yoga and Pranayama (activities based on breath work) offers holistic results. Not only does it relax your muscles but also calms down your mind by regulating your breathing and in turn the racing mind.
We at Manah Wellness offer a comprehensive toolkit that is rooted in creating a healthy and happy environment for the employees. This program is aimed at training HR professionals to launch a successful campaign in their respective workplaces. The LEAP program consists of Wellbeing Guidebooks, Wellbeing Resources, Expert Sessions, and Wellbeing Toolkits. When your team is equipped with the right knowledge and skillset, it also results in improved performance and well-being amongst the employees. You can sign up for the program here.
Introducing EAP services:
Employee Assistance Programs offer a wide range of services from webinar series to helplines to providing Mental Health First Aid training for the employees. It is useful for every employee irrespective of the nature of their work, their profile, or their age and experience. You can also opt for individual counselling sessions through these programs. The sessions offer a safe, private, and non-judgmental space for you to talk openly about your emotions. The World Health Organization points out that for every $1 invested in the treatment of Common Mental Disorders (CMD), there is a boost through the return of $4 in employee productivity and improved health.
FAQs:
- How to identify what programs are right for my organization?
Talk to the service provider. Some companies also offer demo or trial sessions where employees can opt for the services and give honest feedback. This helps in understanding whether a particular program is right and helps in narrowing down your options.
- How can I ensure a quality check?
The Mental Health Professionals are qualified professionals with adequate knowledge and experience. If you want to ensure quality, you can always connect with the MHP and ask them questions or doubts that you may have. An honest and open communication ensures mutual trust, respect, and co-operation.
- How to evaluate the impact of these programs?
To assess the effectiveness of your well-being programs you can implement regular feedback from the employees, conduct surveys, and understand key performance indicators (KPIs). This data will enable you to make adjustments and make improvements over time.
