Wellness. It’s the million-dollar word these days. To stay viable in such a health-conscious climate, companies of all shapes and sizes are employing workplace wellness programs and initiatives. And it’s truly a win-win situation—employees get some fabulous benefits from a healthier corporate environment, and employers reap the rewards of increased efficiency and productivity. So, if you’re an employer and you don’t have a workplace wellness program in place, you best jump aboard, my friend, because the train is leaving, with or without you.

Not sure if workplace wellness activities are right for your company? Chew on these 4 undeniable truths for a bit, and see if they help point you in the right direction.

1. It’s all about the ROI baby. Workplace wellness programs have been shown to have an average return on investment of about 3:1. And aside from direct financial gains, wellness initiatives reduce employee absenteeism, turnover, and stress while bolstering effectiveness and efficiency. Cha-ching. But that’s not all. Employees offered wellness programs have reported an increase in exercise, a healthier diet, and improved mental health. Not to mention what all those improvements do for morale. Healthy employees are happy employees. And since your employees are your greatest assets, it’s in your best interest to keep them walking on sunshine.
2. Corporate wellness is a cinch. Honestly, programs are so simple to manage, there’s no need to hire someone to take care of this—with all the resources available, this task is a snap. You could also consider creating a volunteer wellness committee—a few members who hold regular planning sessions and get others excited about the benefits. However you decide to implement a wellness initiative in your workplace, it’s not a heavy  lift, so set that excuse aside. NEXT!
3. One size doesn’t fit all. A workplace wellness program that works for one company may not work for another—and that’s a good thing. Corporate health initiatives should fit like an Italian suit—custom tailored to your employees. Depending on the type of work and demographic, you’ll want to include preventative services and education that are relevant and resonate with your workforce. So, if you’ve seen or heard about workplace wellness programs that just don’t seem right for your company, it’s because they aren’t right for your company. When it comes to wellness in the workplace, custom is the only way to go.
4. Think mind, body, and soul. Wellness goes well beyond the physical. So, before you dismiss the idea of workplace wellness because you’re afraid of being exclusionary to the less physically fit or able, think about health and nutrition education, relaxation, and stress-relief for mental health, stretching techniques, ergonomic assessment, and massage—who couldn’t benefit from a little support in those departments? When it comes to physical movement, don’t stress over the logistics of employees changing into workout clothes or having to sit sweat soaked the rest of the day—good workplace wellness programs offer options like lunch and learn chair yoga sessions focusing on stretching and strengthening moves to take back to the desk. For those who like to sweat, a more intense session can be worked in on the yoga mats.

Think on these points for a bit. If you want to learn more about creating a workplace wellness program specifically for your employees, be sure to check out what Urban Wellness Clinic has to offer.

The Urban Wellness Clinic difference

We take personalization seriously. That’s why we deliver an a la carte menu of wellness programs so you can pick and choose what works for you. Or, if you want a more specialized approach, we can bring in an expert to evaluate your company’s needs. And we’ll customize a unique program based on that assessment and your choice of monthly or quarterly offerings.

Our program is a personalized menu of four workplace wellness activities:

• Ergonomic assessment: We perform an individualized comprehensive assessment where we examine how you sit at your desk, where you place your arms, how you look at your computer screen, etc, all of which is designed to increase productivity, improve safety, and ensure greater comfort.
• Yoga therapy: Our on-site therapeutic yoga classes are designed to heal chronic work-related injuries, reduce stress, improve alignment, correct breathing patterns, and fix posture issues.
• Nutrition counseling: We show employees how to use food as medicine to beat the 2pm slump and boost productivity. Nutrition is a key component of wellness and we demonstrate which foods can boost energy, clear the mind, and help to maintain a healthy body.
• Chair Massage: Our massage therapists all have over fifteen years of experience and provide medical massages to treat common work-related overuse injuries, such as back pain, headaches, sciatica, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

We’d love to get to know who you are, what you do, and how you do it—and then customize some win-win solutions for you and your team that will pay off in dividends.