Elevate Workplace Wellness: Prioritize Employee Mental Health

September 9, 2024

Workplace wellness has evolved significantly over the past three decades, shifting from wellness being seen as an added benefit to a key pillar for many teams. For many, wellness resources at work may be one of the few opportunities available to pause and recharge. Prioritizing mental health falls on the shoulders of leaders and HR professionals. Champion mental health in the workplace with these simple tips to ensure each team member has the space to access the resources they need.

Understanding the Importance of Mental Health at Work

The Consequences of Neglecting Mental Health

In the office, ignoring your team’s mental health can have a huge impact. Employees who feel overwhelmed or unsupported are more likely to experience burnout, leading to long-term effects on their well-being and the company’s success. In addition to this, there are a few other impacts caused by placing your team’s mental health on the back burner:

All of this not only affects the person who is making your company’s mission possible, but it also slows down the business altogether.

Creating a Culture of Mental Health Awareness

Promoting a culture of mental health awareness starts from the top. Leadership must openly communicate the importance of mental health, model healthy behaviors, and invest in programs. When employees see leaders prioritizing their own well-being, they are more likely to follow suit. This can be modeled in the workplace in a few ways, such as the following:

Implementing a Corporate Wellness Program

Wellness programs can range from fitness classes and nutrition workshops to mindfulness sessions and mental health seminars. It can also include a paid Friday afternoon off or a no-meetings day. It’s never one-size-fits-all. The best wellness programs are ones with the variety to be able to support everyone. Mixing services that cater to different interests and needs allows your programming to be more effective, and you’ll get a better idea of what inspires and nurtures the mental health of your team best.

The Benefits of Onsite Chair Massages

Onsite chair massages are a popular component of corporate wellness programs. These massages give employees a much-needed mental break, allowing them to disconnect from screens and relax. Getting a massage on a regular basis can help reduce stress, alleviate tension, and improve overall well-being.

Onsite massages make it easier than ever for your employees to engage in wellness. This will allow for even your busiest employees to engage, increasing participation rates and a greater impact on your team’s mental health.

Wellness Across Industries

Workplace wellness is not limited to corporate offices. It’s essential to support teams across various industries, including healthcare and manufacturing. Different industries face unique challenges, which in turn require a different wellness approach.
Consider a healthcare environment. These employees likely experience high-stress levels and are at a greater risk for feelings of burnout.

In comparison, the manufacturing industry places significant physical strain on employees, therefore their wellness plan should cater more towards restoring their physical health. Our wellness providers serve various industries, which allows us to meet your team where they are with offerings that are a custom fit for their needs.

Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly Options

Frequency is a large part of building a wellness program for your team. Onsite massage offers you the flexibility you need so the frequency of your wellness sessions matches what your team needs. Weekly massages can offer consistent support, while monthly or quarterly options may be more practical for some teams.

Measuring the Impact

Regularly assessing the impact of your massage event or program can help ensure it’s meeting your wellness objectives. Capturing and assessing your program’s utilization can help guide decisions, such as scheduling services at the best time. Sometimes, switching from a Tuesday to a Friday is all the program needs to ensure all the massage appointments are booked.

Walk the Talk

Prioritizing employee mental health is an ongoing conversation—one that your business should be a part of. Instead of avoiding this crucial topic, put your best foot forward and help employees find the work-life balance necessary for success. Creating a space that supports mental health does not happen overnight, instead, it’s a series of choices implemented and sustained over time.

We’ve seen company programs fall flat when they are not encouraged by leadership, so we work with teams to make sure the right benefit is offered at the right time. By implementing corporate wellness programs, promoting mental health awareness, and offering support through initiatives like onsite chair massages, you can create a workplace where employees feel valued and supported.

Talk to a wellness specialist today and start creating your own unique mental health wellness plan. Together, we can build a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.

Author

Emily Bonzi

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