Management buy-in, support and participation are crucial to the success of your wellness program. While more than 66 percent of all US employers offer some kind of health and wellness program, the employers who see the best ROI are those whose management is supportive of wellness and actively involved in the organization’s program.
There are a number of ways management can support your organization's culture of well-being. Managers who get health screenings, take advantage of group fitness programs, and participate in employer offered wellness activities demonstrate their commitment to health as a priority. By modelling healthy behavior and giving employees permission to take time during the workday to engage in exercise, meditation or participate in an onsite wellness program, managers can set an example for their team members. To get your managers on board with your wellness program, work with them to highlight the behavior that is important to the your organization. Steps can include:
Practicing self-care. Stress is one of the leading causes of poor employee health. Managers can create a healthy workforce by developing a supportive environment and refraining from emailing employees on the weekend. Managers should take vacations and encourage employees to take a ‘mental health day’ when needed. Managers that practice self-care show employees that they should be prioritizing their well-being.
Staying active. Managers can encourage employees to be more active throughout the day by turning conference room meetings into walking meetings, offering employees standing desks, and encouraging employees to get up from their desks every hour to stretch, move or take the stairs to visit a colleague.
Expressing gratitude. A simple thank you to employees for a job well done will immediately increase morale and promote a more positive work environment. Higher office morale can lead to more productivity and less employee turnover.
Making wellness convenient. Many full-time employees feel too busy to get involved in any wellness program. Managers can offer employees the ability to get in some exercise throughout the workday by letting them know it’s okay – and even expected – that they take time to take a break.