Why HR Doesn’t Have Time to Think About a Wellness Strategy & What It's Costing Your Company – Multi-Part Series. PT 1: Assessing Workplace Wellness in 2023

 By eLifestyle President, Wellness Culture Synergist & Executive Wellness Expert, Robb Armstrong

Workplace wellness is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. In the new world of work, as employers, it is more essential than ever to assess the wellness of our employees to ensure they are happy, healthy, and equipped to perform their best. To provide a brief overview of the landscape we’re currently faced with, in this blog post, we will discuss the importance of assessing workplace wellness and provide some Canadian statistics to help understand the current state of employee wellness in our country.

Workplace wellness is defined as the “activities and programs that promote overall health and well-being among employees.” This includes a wide range of activities such as health screenings, fitness programs, stress management, and mental health support. By promoting and encouraging these activities, employers can help their employees maintain optimal health and reduce the risk of illnesses and diseases.

But how do we know if our workplace wellness programs are effective? One of the best ways to measure the success of our programs is to assess the wellness of our employees. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, and other data collection methods. By gathering information about our employees’ physical and mental health, we can identify areas where our programs are working well, and areas that need improvement.

Assessing workplace wellness is not only important for the health and well-being of our employees, but it also has a positive impact on our bottom line. According to a study by the Conference Board of Canada, “workplace wellness programs can lead to a return on investment of up to $3.50 for every dollar spent.” This is because healthy employees are more productive, have fewer sick days, and are less likely to experience workplace injuries.

Now let's dive into some Canadian statistics:

1. According to a survey by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, “20% of Canadian employees report experiencing mental health problems in the workplace.” This highlights the importance of addressing mental health and providing support for employees who may be struggling.
2. In Canada, “absenteeism due to mental health issues costs employers an estimated $6 billion annually.” This not only affects the bottom line but also the productivity of the company.
3. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) states that “stress is the most frequently reported workplace hazard in Canada.” This is a significant concern, as prolonged stress can lead to a variety of health problems, including depression, anxiety, and heart disease.

In conclusion, assessing workplace wellness is essential for the health and well-being of our employees and for the success of our business. By gathering information about our employees’ physical and mental health, we can identify areas where our programs are efficient and thriving, and also areas that need some tweaks. By promoting and encouraging workplace wellness programs that create synergies across the board, we can help our employees maintain good health and reduce the risk of illnesses and diseases. The statistics mentioned above show the importance of addressing mental health and stress in the workplace. By meeting these issues with outside-of-the-box thinking, we can create a healthier and more productive workforce.

In part 2a of “Why HR Doesn’t Have Time to Think About a Wellness Strategy & What It's Costing Your Company,” I’ll be sharing valuable insights from Kim Chernecki, CEO & Founder of Freedom Street, Canada's leading expert in helping freelance executives, consultants, and coaches land lucrative corporate contracts, and the fractional Director of Business Development & Growth at MacKay CEO Forums. Kim has her finger on the pulse of what’s top of mind for CEOs and HR leaders across corporate north America. Don't miss it!

➡️ To view our full Sept. 2022 Virtual Workplace Wellness Intensive Replay, CLICK THE LINK:

https://www.elifestyle.ca/elifestyle-online-intensive-signup-for-replay-sept-2022-1

➡️ Interested in a Workplace Wellness Plan for your organization? Book a 30-min. consultation with eLifestyle CEO, Wellness Culture Synergist & Executive Wellness Expert, Leah Epstein Armstrong!

https://calendly.com/elifestyle/connecting