How Wellness Programs are Revolutionizing the Workplace in 2023

Beth Rush

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Since Millennials and Gen Z have replaced baby boomers as the bulk of the workforce in recent years, workplace attitudes have noticeably changed. Work-life balance and overall wellness are among younger employees’ top priorities, and companies are reacting accordingly with some thoughtful wellness initiatives.

Let’s explore some of the most impactful ways employee wellness programs are revolutionizing the workplace in 2023.

Emphasizing Communication

Communication between coworkers is crucial for the staff’s well-being. Without it, people feel isolated and disconnected from their peers and their work quality suffers as a result. Superiors can also quickly lose control of their subordinates without proper communication. Employees need to feel heard and appreciated.

Wellness programs have made employees more empathetic towards their coworkers and aware of their individual needs. The higher-ups in the office are more open to chatting with entry-level employees. Companies are even more generous with PTO and personal health days.

Rather than leaving everyone to deal with their own problems, businesses hold regular touchpoints with every employee to evaluate their well-being first, and job performance second. In previous generations, the priorities were the other way around. You can’t overstate the value of employees feeling encouraged to speak their minds.

Companies have also implemented more collaboration tools to keep at-home workers connected. Virtual happy hours, trivia nights, and other team-building events go a long way toward building an office culture and keeping everyone satisfied.

Open-door office policies and state-of-the-art communication platforms have totally changed the atmosphere of the average office. Employees are more comfortable voicing their thoughts and feelings, which makes for a more mentally healthy and tight-knit workforce.

Embracing Flexible Schedules

Hybrid and remote work schedules have boomed in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Many people have decided they like working remotely or alternating between home and office, and companies have embraced this change. Flexible work schedules support employee wellness in many important ways:

• More free time: Instead of wasting time on the daily commute, workers can stay home and enjoy some extra free time every day.

• Lower stress levels: Some personalities are better suited for remote work than the hustle and bustle of office life. Allowing these people to work from home reduces their stress levels and makes them more productive.
• Telehealth: Many health care services also went virtual during the pandemic, such as routine check-ups for patients in rehab. Hybrid and remote employees can take advantage of these telehealth services if they’re unable to travel.

Hybrid and remote workers can customize their home offices to their liking, with additions such as ambient music, extra lighting, new desks and chairs — the list goes on. Office buildings typically don’t have this kind of design flexibility.

Some job positions require staying in the office for practical reasons, such as department heads and employees who need lots of equipment. Other than these exceptions, organizations should provide flexible scheduling options and allow workers to find out which environment supports their wellness the most.

Focusing on Fitness

While we’ve talked a lot about mental health so far: it’s time to switch over to physical health. COVID-19 gave many people health scares and forced them to reevaluate their lifestyles, which has resulted in a new wave of fitness enthusiasm. Although office designs have certain limitations, companies can still bring lots of fitness-oriented features into the workplace.

Small office gyms, healthy snack bars, ergonomic desk set-ups, and similar building additions that promote physical activity are worthwhile investments for all companies. Employees can sneak in quick workouts during their breaks, staying on task while keeping up with their fitness routines.

HR departments should also start employee wellness programs that educate the staff about exercise and nutrition. These programs are proven to help workers increase their activity levels and manage their weight more effectively, according to a recent comprehensive study. Companies must arm their employees with the knowledge to improve their well-being.

Brightening Up the Workplace

The traditional office cubicle set-up with bland colors and dim fluorescent lighting is a thing of the past. Now that employee wellness is the utmost concern, companies are brightening up the workplace – literally and figuratively. The most impactful light-related wellness trend has been the emphasis on sunlight exposure for workers who stay inside all day.

Even small doses of sunlight have innumerable health benefits, from correcting your sleep cycle to improving productivity. It’s a natural mood booster that every workplace needs. Skylights and window walls are the simplest ways to bring more sunlight into every room.

Another important trend has been human-centric lighting, a holistic approach to artificial lights that makes them more soothing and gentler on the eyes. Eco-friendly LED lights with different colors and dimming features allow employees to adjust the light levels to meet their preferences. Instead of dealing with the same overbearing lights, they can get something different every day.

Providing Generous Health Benefits

The U.S. is the only wealthy nation without a universal health care system. Employers are usually responsible for providing health care coverage, which gives them a significant amount of influence over their workforce’s health. Rather than abusing this power, companies are providing relevant and meaningful health benefits to support employee wellness.

Along with basic health care coverage for illnesses and injuries, some organizations are now covering new medications and mental health services, such as therapy and counseling. Physical health used to be the only thing people worried about, but now all aspects of our health have become top priorities.

Some companies go the extra mile with comprehensive packages, including dental, vision, and other medical specialties. Many health issues can put someone out of work, so businesses need to provide employees with complete coverage to ensure healthy and happy coworkers.

A New Era of Workplace Wellness

Employee wellness programs have made significant strides in the last few years. They have affected the workplace in many ways, from the atmosphere and the building’s design to employee attitudes. 2023 could mark the official beginning of a new era, in which society cares more about its citizens’ well-being than the profit margins of the companies they work for.

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Featured image courtesy of Kornél Máhl on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.