On any given week, your employees are likely managing a schedule packed with meetings, phone calls, projects, and deadlines, and those are just their professional demands. Employees may also be serving as a caregiver for children or aging parents, as well as trying to tend to their own physical and emotional needs. It can be a challenge to balance it all, but an onsite health coach can help! An onsite health coach will partner with participants and guide them in improving their well-being right at the workplace. A health coach can help employees learn to recognize stress before it becomes unbearable, teach techniques to self-regulate anxiety, guide employees in using employer resources (e.g., Employee Assistance Programs, financial support such as 401k partners), provide support and accountability needed to achieve wellness goals, and much more.
Here are four benefits to bringing an onsite health coach to your organization:
Accessibility: Employees are much more likely to engage in health coaching if appointments are available at the workplace, during work time. Offering onsite appointments allows the participant to focus on their specific needs without the added stress of a commute or trying to find time to engage after work hours. An onsite health coach allows for spontaneous meetings; participants can reach out when they have an unexpected break in their day. This accessibility leads to higher engagement and successful outcomes.
Room to Learn: The health coach is onsite to foster a culture of well-being and support. They can deliver group health education sessions that are interesting and relevant to the employees at that job site. The health coach can tailor the content and presentation style to best fit your employee population. Additionally, the health coach can maximize engagement by offering these sessions at the most convenient times during the workday.
Community Building: Being onsite enables a health coach to be seen as part of the team, and fosters a sense of community between employer, employees, and health coach. Sharing a space and being present in each other’s workday can also make the coach seem more approachable and thus encourage employees to reach out when they are ready.
Better Health: Studies have shown that engaging in coaching has helped participants manage a variety of health conditions. A health coach can address open gaps in care leading to better outcomes management and improved quality of life, especially for employees living with chronic conditions. With an onsite health coach, better health is within reach for all employees.
Having a health coach onsite can break down accessibility and time barriers, can create stronger community bonds, and can lead to a culture of health in the workplace.
Wellness Workdays develops and implements wellness programs, many of which include one-on-one health coaching, for organizations across the country. Our health coaching programs have been shown to keep participants engaged and provide demonstrated outcomes for our clients. Contact us to learn more.