Supporting Employee Health

How Can Employers Support Employee Health?

If there is one thing that is becoming clear through this pandemic, it’s that our health is vital. It is vital to the way we want to live our lives, vital to supporting our families and communities, and vital to keeping our economy humming along. It is not enough to count on modern medicine to swoop in at the last minute to save us. It is up to us to work on building our immune systems and prioritizing our health. 

Preventative health is not complicated. There are simple habits that support health by addressing sleep, nutrition, hydration, movement, and stress management, but sometimes it is hard work to establish these habits, and to sustain them. Having support at home and at work can help make these habits stick. 

If you are an employer, you may be wondering how to encourage your employees to work toward better health as it becomes clear that healthy employees are an asset to any company. If you are an employee, you may be wondering how to access the tools you need to make the changes you know you need to make in order to stay healthy and be able to work through many circumstances. Corporate wellness programs can bridge this gap, but only if they are done well. 

What are the hallmarks of a program that actually works?

1. Sustainability. In order for healthy habits to make a difference for people, they must be sustained over the long run. A short-term intervention isn’t going to cut it, because there are no short-cuts to good health. Just as the cumulative effects of poor sleep and nutrition will take a while to show up, so too will the cumulative effects of good health habits. 
2. Culture change. Corporate wellness programs are shown to be most effective when good health is part of the culture of the company. There is plenty of evidence that the “band-aid” approach to health isn’t working, and that we need to address the roots of good health and the habits that support it, and having a supportive work environment can be key to encouraging change and growth. 
3. Motivation. Handing employees another task or requiring them to jump through a hoop is not motivation that will support long-term change. However, offering tools and support can help employees who are motivated to make a change be successful. If the focus is all on the benefits to the employer, corporate wellness programs can feel invasive and actually discourage participation, but encouraging mutual thriving is beneficial to both the employees and the employer. 
4. Working together. It is essential to partner with employees within the company to support the cultural health changes you’re looking for, and also to partner with outside experts who can guide you to the most effective programs and methods. Collaboration and partnership to work toward mutually beneficial outcomes will lead to the kind of long-term change that is necessary.

At TruBalance, we are committed to giving people the tools to sustain healthy habits for the long haul. We are passionate about helping people live out their purpose in health and vitality, in order to show up in all aspects of their lives. There are no gimmicks and no short-cuts to good health, but with support and personal discipline the habits that support good health and a strong immune system are accessible to anyone.