National wellness month has exceptional benefits for employees, the work environment, the culture, and the company’s profit margins. You may wonder how August can help your retail, education, professional services, or technology company staff, especially as HR. Also, how do you recognize national wellness month in a way that supports and motivates everyone to pursue their best efforts each day? Let’s discover more about the priceless reasons for participating in wellness month, ideas on how to do it, and how it helps everyone upscale.
The University of Texas explains national wellness month better than most (6). They describe it as a month to:
In comparison, Harvard explains wellness in broader terms if you’re the HR providing a wellness month or helping staff celebrate complete health (31). Whole health means the month celebrates and encourages well-being in the following parts of each employee’s life:
August is national wellness month! That means national wellness month 2023 falls in the midst of summer, making it ideal for building healthier lifestyles while enjoying outdoor activities. Though August is national wellness month, WebMD suggests prioritizing wellness all year (7).
According to a White House proclamation, national mental wellness month was in May (4). It focused on raising awareness of mental health, including workplace wellness. The month returns in 2024, but combining mental and physical wellness during August is important.
Mental wellness month should become part of your physical health month in August because the two connect and influence each other. The American Psychological Association says chronic stress may lead to higher risks of (32):
Ultimately, failing to care for mental health in the workplace may lead to more sick days.
Read More: Does Chair Yoga Work? The Truth According To Wellness Experts
Small-to-medium-sized businesses SMEs aren’t incorporating wellness programs. Here’s the data – Forbes reports that 46.4% of US employees fit into SMEs with 0-500 staff members (29). Meanwhile, 99.9% of US businesses fall under the SME category.
Also, the US Small Business Administration chart shows that some companies with up to 1000 employees are still SMEs (33). For example, those in retail, technology, education, and professional services remain SMEs beyond 500 employees but under 1000.
Forbes reported how 61.7 million US employees work for SMEs (29). It doesn’t seem shocking until you realize how few SMEs consider wellness programs. An NSBCA survey showed only 22% of SMEs, particularly smaller businesses, had wellness programs (30).
This is a shocking revelation when you realize what a recent study proves. Colorado researchers compared wellness program participation between SMEs and large enterprises (35). They found that SME employees participated more openly than larger company’s staff did.
Wellness Month 2023 and forward the next few years can be a benefit for everyone in your company, whether you have ten employees or 1000 staff. It helps to know how does, as the human resources representative. This way the higher-ups will look at the data because they will want these benefits.
Global wellness month statistics show how the celebration and integration may boost a company’s profits and output. Let’s focus on the advantages of wellness month, programs, and benefits in the workplace.
The Society for Human Resources Management, or SHRM, says employees are less satisfied with their wellness benefits than over the past decade (5). Employee satisfaction in 2023 dropped to 61% versus 64% in 2022. However, the perceived satisfaction dropped a whopping 22%. It’s no surprise that unhappy employees aren’t willing to stick around or do their best.
Washington researchers examined how effective wellness programs were catering to self-care, stress management, and overall health impact productivity (34). The results weren’t significant, but workplaces saw improved productivity when they communicated, encouraged, and tracked wellness programs.
Celebrating national wellness month or using wellness programs may reduce company costs. Dr. Robert Mordkin told Employee Benefit News that preventive care may reduce long-term healthcare costs for companies (23). The highest health costs originate from:
Harvard analyzed various studies to see whether wellness programs could cut costs related to healthcare and absenteeism (40). The results showed that companies saved $3.27 in medical costs per dollar spent on wellness. Also, they saved $2.73 on absenteeism for every dollar spent on preventive health.
Avoid chronic stress leading to poor health by celebrating national wellness month (32).
Colorado researchers confirmed how SME employees improved overall health when the company incorporated wellness programs (35). SME employees reduced:
Dr. Richard Milani shared the results of an experiment with Harvard Business Review (39). One employer studied how effective cardiovascular training helped employees and their spouses. Those who had a high risk for heart disease became low-risk staff.
Why would you care about your employee’s life outside work? You should care because their mental health doesn’t change once they enter the workplace. An SHRM workplace study found that burnout during work hours may be caused by an inability to wind down after work (12).
Harvard Medical School studied a wellness program over three years to see what improved (16). Employees followed healthier lifestyles in and out of the workplace at 18 months and three years. Most notably, employees managed their weight better and ate healthier. Fewer illnesses also help employees give their best at work.
Read More: Understanding The 8 Areas Of Wellness
National wellness month brings many opportunities in activities, ideas for change in the workplace, and corporate wellness programs. Let’s discover what awaits you and your staff.
First, let’s look at ideas to celebrate and encourage health during national wellness month.
The Society for Human Resources Management looks inside KPMG’s strategy to combat mental health challenges (19). KPMG will shut down company wide for four days to encourage employees to disconnect and recharge. Disconnection refuels long-term energy. KPMG plans well ahead to ensure minimal losses during the collective break initiative.
Global X Research showed how over 50% of employees thought digital health monitoring improved ease of access and coordinated care (10). You can offer digital tracking by:
According to ADP, 75% of employees want financial tools and inclusive support at work (25). While HR Drive reports the state of Maine will implement paid family and medical leave outside the direct family in 2026 (24).
Small, meaningful acts energize your company’s culture because they matter to the staff (15). Doing something charitable that means the world to employees might improve their overall wellness and community or work culture.
SHRM research shows that 42% of younger employees experience burnout weekly and plan to leave their jobs in the next 12 months (18). As HR or an employer, start providing the resources to prevent burnout and retain your favorite Gen Z employees by:
Scott Wallace from the Geisel School of Medicine says presenteeism costs companies 3-10 times all staff benefits (21). Self-care may prevent presenteeism because an unproductive or unwell employee will cost you more than a healthy one. Staff needs education, communication, and motivation about:
Mental health spending is declining, but 45% of employees spent between $500 and $6000 last year (14). Make sure you provide the necessary tools and resources for employees to reduce these numbers further before it costs you more. Here are three ideas to help employees with mental health:
Employee Benefit News shares how one company will provide productivity solutions and supplements (27). Here are three natural energy boosters in the workplace:
Have an incentive to run for August this year and challenge employees to eat healthier and exercise. Let’s see some ideas employees can use to help them shed pounds during the contest. Educate staff with the proper meal and workout plans they need to succeed.
National wellness month activities are physical and mental. Let’s see what you can do.
Did you know chair yoga is excellent for stretching muscles and improving physical fitness in the workplace? (1) Lose the office chairs and welcome yoga balls. Then, have a morning ball yoga session to loosen everyone up and increase focus. Leave the balls to keep employees going throughout the day.
A quarter of employees experience burnout, even with mental health support (3). The problem is employers and HR target mental health wrongly, forgetting to encourage better mental health in the workplace. Group activities also help employees feel included and supported in their professional community.
Try out meditation breathing techniques to help employees calm their nerves together (26). Make it a proactive morning routine before stress and burnout occur. The morning ritual won’t only make employees feel better. It also improves their focus for the day ahead (11).
August is national wellness month, and it’s summertime! UK researchers examined the effects of physical activity in nature to find it has higher advantages for mental and psychological wellness (36). Get your employees outdoors to enjoy summer each week while getting into nature and physical fitness. Book a kayaking experience for the staff (20).
Did you know gratitude is one of our favorite forms of emotional self-care (37)? Design a gratitude wall where staff can list anything they’re grateful for in their lives, at work, or to celebrate others in the workplace. Allow them to add images or words to decorate the wall.
The Cleveland Clinic recommends Pilates and stretching to relieve pain, strengthen the core, and improve posture (28). Try our 28-day wall pilates challenge as a workgroup to inspire, motivate, and benefit in ways that help you and the staff in your workplace (2).
Wellness programs should focus on helping you educate, encourage, monitor, and collaborate. Hence, our Corporate Wellness Program has everything you need. Here are some highlights of our program:
It’s every August! This should be when employers, HR, and colleagues promote workplace wellness. However, WebMD suggests everyone should pay attention to wellness all year, not only during August (7).
Harvard Business Review suggests national wellness month focuses on whole well-being (31). Leaders or HR can help employees improve mental, physical, social, financial, community, and career well-being. You will be providing employees with resources, activities, or programs on overall wellness.
We have programs like the Custom Diet and Workout Plan or the 28-Day Pilates Challenge. The Society for Human Resource Management says wellness programs must educate, encourage, and improve wellness in the workplace (38). The ideal program offers:
August is national wellness month, when you can inspire, motivate, and support employees as HR or an employer. Start considering the benefits to you, the staff, and the company. Then, pick your wellness initiatives or join our program. Either way, start by recognizing wellness month, and don’t stop until you and your employees are happy, healthy, and unstoppable.
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