Personalized Wellbeing in Today’s Employee Wellness World

One-size-fits-all solutions for employee wellness are falling by the wayside as targeted approaches continue to thrive. This trend of wellness program personalization puts a strong focus on individual fitness, nutrition and holistic needs. Businesses continue to find ways to creatively meet these needs.

Fitness programs available through employers are improving as insurance carriers team up with fitness club networks to present an array of choices. Cigna has partnered with Active and Fit Direct to offer members a fitness center membership for $25 per month; this membership allows the holder to visit any participating facility. Florida Blue offers a similar plan through Fitness Your Way by Tivity Health.

In addition to carrier offerings, employers are updating onsite gyms, offering stand-up desks or under-the-desk ellipticals, purchasing activity trackers for employees, and subsidizing bike share programs.

The second approach to wellbeing  is nutrition, and companies are facing the challenge by presenting healthy food options at employee meetings, stocking vending machines with healthy choices, partnering with local restaurants, and engaging in campaigns like “Fruit Fridays.” For the competitive crowd, nutrition competitions such as mean green (fruit and veggie intake), water challenge (drink 8 glasses of water daily), and meatless Monday are prevalent.

Another important component for wellbeing is sleep. When was the last time you took a nap at work (on purpose) or took 10 minutes to meditate? This planned time-out can increase employee productivity and overall health. If you have an extra small room or closet that is not utilized, consider turning it into a quiet space. A calming atmosphere with soft music, amber lighting, couch or recliner, yoga mat and plants can set the stage for a great sleep suite or quiet room.

Have questions? Need assistance implementing any of these personalized wellbeing programs? Contact me at tblocker@w3ins.com.