Enjoy these Workplace Wellness Resources:

Takeaway: 

The presence of stressors within the workplace is normal and inevitable, and in some cases may even act as a motivating force for employees. However, high levels of stressors or subjectively appraised stress experienced by employees is limiting, can stunt employee output, decrease concentration, and increase strain symptoms.

Massage therapy has been effective in aleviating strain symptoms in many sample populations and in a variety of contexts and has resulted in positive psychological and physiological health benefits. Therefore, offering massage therapy directly within the organizational setting may be of significant value with regard to incorporating stress management practices into employee life and facilitating compliance with treatment. Moreover, studies have supported the importance of extrinsic rewards, such as massage therapy, in increasing organizational commitment. 

On-site massage of the type investigated here is a promising means of stress reduction and health promotion within organizations. 

Takeaway: "Between 2019-22, Return On Wellbeing Institute’s Workplace Wellness: Best Practices Study 2022(sponsored by the Wellness Council of America) examined best practices in workplace wellness by identifying data from recognized authorities in the business, health and workplace wellness sectors. This resulted in the following set of practices for designing and implementing effective employee wellness initiatives.

1. Strategic approach
2. Culture as a priority
3. Whole-person approach
4. Leadership support
5. Purpose as a priority
6. Returns are measured

Takeaway: "Employee perks can also be an important part of an organizations' retention strategy. Comparably found that 79% of workers from the top-rated large companies and 83% of employees from top-rated small and medium organizations said that benefits play a part in their decision to stay in their company. However, as Comparably also notes, the top-rated companies offer benefits that cater to the full spectrum of an employee's life – something ping-pong tables and slides don't quite deliver."

Takeaway: "The study showed an improvement in brain performance and found that 15 minutes of chair massage was more effective than a 15-minute break to reduce anxiety. Employees receiving chair massage also had an increase in speed and accuracy in completing math equations. 

The brain’s ability to function more effectively combined with a decrease in anxiety and increase in feelings of contentment and well-being can result in improved job performance."

A 2019 Harvard Business Review article: (I mention the date because the pre-pandemic world is decidedly different from post-pandemic)

Takeaway: "Today, more than 9 in 10 organizations across the globe offer employees at least one kind of wellness benefit, and more than 3 in 5 have dedicated “wellness budgets,” which are expected to expand by 7.8% in the coming years. "

"Consider that 97% of large American companies (5,000+) offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) to workers seeking support from a mental health professional. Given the climbing prevalence of mental health issues in the U.S., you might assume employees are putting EAP benefits to good use. However, a recent EAP industry trends report shows that only 6.9% of people actually use them.

This is, in part, due to lack of education about available mental health resources."

Takeaway: "Do a culture workshop

Sometimes we’re so entrenched in an organisation we need an external perspective to understand what our culture really is. Doing a workshop with your employees, to talk about how to improve your, culture is a really good place to start. Try something like Culturevist, a network of culture activists who run regular bespoke workshops and events.

Sign up for employee reward services like Perkbox or Reward Gateway."

Takeaway: "The science: how essential oils help mental focus, clarity, and memory.

• A study in 1990 showed that smelling peppermint essential oil enhanced alertness, focus, and concentration. (It should be noted, later research showed that eating peppermint did not have the same effect as smelling it did in the previous study.)
• Another study confirmed that smelling peppermint enhanced accuracy of memory.
• An English study that found that rosemary essential oil increased memory and alertness.
• This Japanese study found that inhaling lavender essential oil while on breaks actually increased concentration when going back to work.

Takeaway: "Healthy employees cost you less. Doctors Richard Milani and Carl Lavie demonstrated that point by studying, at a single employer, a random sample of 185 workers and their spouses. The participants were not heart patients, but they received cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training from an expert team. Of those classified as high risk when the study started (according to body fat, blood pressure, anxiety, and other measures), 57% were converted to low-risk status by the end of the six-month program. Furthermore, medical claim costs had declined by $1,421 per participant, compared with those from the previous year. A control group showed no such improvements. The bottom line: Every dollar invested in the intervention yielded $6 in health care savings."

Takeaway: "In our latest study of brain wave activity, researchers confirmed what many people sense from experience: Back-to-back virtual meetings are stressful. But the research also points to a simple remedy—short breaks.

“Our research shows breaks are important, not just to make us less exhausted by the end of the day, but to actually improve our ability to focus and engage while in those meetings,” says Michael Bohan, senior director of Microsoft’s Human Factors Engineering group, who oversaw the project."

Takeaway: "Whether you choose to work with a wellness program vendor or start a simple company wellness program on your own, the good news is that this effort doesn’t have to cost a whole lot, but the payback is high. It’s been estimated that for every dollar spent on wellness initiatives, more than $3 is saved in health care premiums and more than $2 in absenteeism.  That's over a 400% ROI, and it’s hard to find anything that compares. Wellness programs have also been shown to raise employee engagement levels, making them more productive and increasing revenues for any company."

Takeaway: "Why do you need a corporate wellness program? A corporate wellness program can keep employees happier, healthier and more motivated, which means more productivity, less health care costs and less turnover for you as an employer. There are many different wellness program ideas that companies can implement. From yoga to healthy snacks, consider adding one or more of these 20 wellness program ideas into your organization."

Takeaway: "As organizations think about making mental health awareness more mainstream in their workplace, they can be bolstered by the fact that 87% of employees believe actions from their employer would help their mental health, according to the American Psychological Association. This can be in the form of benefits conversations, endorsing mental health and well-being options, and finding ways to have regular check-ins with their workforce. Crable recommends starting with the basics that serve to refresh people on the benefits they have in the first place. "

I am always adding to this list!