Written by: Nicole Anglace
Just two brief months ago we welcomed the start of a new year, many of us setting goals for ourselves and our companies.
Do you remember your resolutions? Have you kept them? In this article, you’ll understand why sticking to several healthy practice management tips in the long term can give you a crucial edge in recruiting and retaining Millennial employees.
Embracing Health & Wellness
A common personal resolution revolves around health and wellness—losing weight, eating better, going to the gym, etc. But how can business resolutions revolving around health and wellness contribute to the health and wellbeing of your practice?
Many Millennials expect their workplace to provide access to a healthier way of life. As a recent Forbes article points out, corporate wellness programs are no longer a “fad”—organizations now need some type of wellness initiative to stay current and competitive. In other words, if your organization hasn’t already implemented a corporate wellness policy, it’s time to make that resolution!
Effective corporate wellness isn’t just providing a comprehensive health care policy. In fact, according to a 2014 survey , the top three wellness offerings employees (of all generations) wanted were healthy on-site food choices, physical activity programs and on-site gyms.
Another area of focus for many employers appears to be mental health. When this study was conducted, it was reported that 52.4% of employers offered services for mental health.
Healthy Food Options at Work
Healthy food and drink options at work are definitely a great idea to offer at work. The American Heart Association has a comprehensive document with many tips you may find relevant to your workplace environment.
Additionally, according to a 2016 Willis Towers Watson survey , one of the key elements in building a healthy workplace culture focuses on encouraging healthy behaviors in employees such as providing proper food options at work.
In fact, 70% of the US firms that were surveyed indicate that they are embracing such policies. Is your company a part of this statistic?
Focus on Physical Activity
In addition to offering fewer sugary beverages and removing the junk foods from your offices, many companies have found that providing access to workout facilities or allowing time in employee’s schedule for meditation/exercise goes a long way.
Flexibility and exercise are key. Providing employees with standing desks or stability balls are suggested tactics to approach an inclusive health program in your office.
Mental Health and Stress Management
Despite the inclination to improve one’s physical state, many have noted that Millennials are the “most stressed generation.”
Based on the APA’s most recent installment in their annual stress study, 2015 Stress in America study , Millennial’s reported their stress at 6.0 on a 10.0 point scale. This is 0.5pt worse than the previous year. Regardless, both installments indicate that stress levels for Millennials are well above the average.
Clearly, stress is an ongoing issue that must be managed. Some approaches you may take to managing stress focus on offering your employees stress and mental health education or providing them with a meditation room/break.
Conclusions on a Healthy Workplace
Taking an interest in the physical and mental health of your employees can clearly have positive returns.
As noted by Concentra , high levels of stress (and/or anxiety) often positively correlate with increased levels of presenteeism (a lack of productivity).
Offering ways to combat these issues, as well as general health concerns, shows all employees that your company cares. This can, in turn, lead to higher employee retention given higher levels of satisfaction.