Schools, companies, and other sectors are starting to operate. Hopefully, these sectors will continue to function as long as they follow strict safety protocols.
Indeed, there will be a lot of things to consider, especially the workforce’s safety. Thus, company owners will need to put effort into welcoming back their employees to a safe and clean working environment.
In relation to this, the government and private sectors are thinking of ways to ensure everyone’s health and well-being after the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, here are six ways to revive your employee wellness program:
Initiate wellness challenges
Designing and managing an employee wellness program is a vital tread in improving employees’ health and efficacy.
A successfully implemented wellness program reduces absenteeism and injuries. Hence, lowers health care costs – both for the employer and employee.
Employers should first conduct an assessment to gather information about the health of the workforce. From this, everyone will be aware of what is needed to be done and decide what activities they are willing to do to improve the results.
Getting everybody’s opinions and suggestions gives a sense of belongingness. Plus, it provides a feeling of authority over the desired results.
More so, giving credits and a simple token of appreciation would encourage high participation. It can also encourage employees to strive and take care of their health.
Conduct office health screenings
After COVID-19, social distancing and office health screenings will most likely continue.
Doing such precautionary measures will give a sense of security and cultivate trust between you and your employees. It will make them feel that they are taken care of and are considered part of the family.
Conducting office health screenings is a great way to put precautionary measures in place. That’s because it helps avoid illness-related losses in productivity and revenue.
Another measure you can do is provide PPE, sanitizing products, and maintain your company facilities’ cleanliness. As we always tell our clients at Maid Sailors Office Cleaning NYC, now is an excellent time to reinforce having a clean office for healthy employees.
Incorporate nutrition into the program
Another must-have component of a wellness program is incorporating nutrition. Eating well in the workplace will bring a significant impact on overall health and well-being.
Organizing nutrition programs is one of the simplest means to aim for employees’ post-COVID health and well-being.
But should you stop there? Definitely not.
Help your employees eat better by making meetings and celebrations healthy. Make sure that fruits and vegetables are part of the options. Request healthy, lower-calorie selections from the menu.
Review the vending machines around the office. Most employees skip meals and would opt for what is accessible. Hence, the increase in consuming junk foods.
Oh, and in break rooms, make sure that the coffee maker has a healthy jar beside it!
Invest in employee’s mental health
We all have times when life gets on top of us, especially at this time of pandemic – an overwhelming sense of uncertainty.
The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a physical health issue. It is also a mental health issue that requires special attention.
As employees spend most of their time in the workplace, they must know how to manage mental health at work. They should be aware of the right people to reach out to in a time of distress – either a colleague or a resident counselor.
Invest in your employees’ mental health. This should not be too expensive on your part. Go out, take a random check, and spend time with your employees – even a simple chat will go a long way.
Use telemedicine
Telemedicine allows communication with healthcare providers by using technology. With telemedicine, unnecessary hospital visits are reduced.
In the aftermath of COVID-19, telemedicine will remain. Moreover, healthcare providers have escalated their telehealth offerings.
Similarly, the number of patients consulting via remote access platforms has increased. Thus, the use of telemedicine is practically beneficial for employees.
Offer flexible work options
Classes, meetings, business transactions, and conferences are done online. Flexible work arrangements have been happening now in all institutions and companies.
Under the flexible work arrangement, everyone in the workforce can work in their preferred schedule. Doing so gives your employee a sense of autonomy in fulfilling their tasks while ensuring work-life balance.
A study shows that 90% of employers say productivity has stayed the same or increased due to remote working. This confirms that remote employees are less stressed. And when they’re not stressed, they are more productive.
Over to You
As returning to work slowly takes place in all industries, implementing a proactive health and safety strategy is vital.
It has never been more critical for leaders to be present among their staff and offer reassurance and transparency. The last thing we want to happen is to let doubt multiply within the workforce.
Thus, it would be best to keep in mind the tips listed in this post. That way, you can help fuel the economy without compromising your employees’ safety.
