Many employers are realizing the benefits of helping their employees improve their health. Implementing a workplace wellness program is great for business. Not only do employees feel better, they also:

·      Perform better

·      Are more productive

·      Have a more positive mindset

·      Are better team players

·      Have improved energy levels (physical, mental and emotional)

·      Have enhanced problem solving and creativity skills

·      Are more present while at work

·      Take fewer sick days

·      Are more loyal

·      Have improved safety

·      Are more engaged

Investing in your employees’ health and well-being is becoming more important as levels of mental health and stress are on the rise. Why? Work days are becoming longer, infiltrating our evenings and weekends. Demands at work are becoming larger. We are in the middle of a global pandemic. Work and home life are becoming one, making the work-life balance much harder to manage. Employees are juggling home schooling and work obligations at once. And social outlets are becoming more and more limited.

·      In April 2020, the Mental Health Commission of Canada informed that “Canadians are four times more likely to report their mental health is worse or somewhat worse than before COVID-19, rather than better or somewhat better.”

·      Mental health problems account for more than $56 billion in lost productivity costs due to absenteeism and presenteeism (Mental Health Commission of Canada).

·      44% of employees have had a mental health issue in their workplace (Conference Board of Canada).

So, what can organizations do about this? Offering webinars or the odd health initiative is a good step. However, if you want to create lasting, positive change, you need to create a culture of health.

DEFINING HEALTH CULTURE

A culture is a set of values, beliefs, behaviours, work processes, and practices that are shared by employees within the organization.

A health culture is:

·      A workplace environment that supports and encourages healthy behaviours

·      Aligned and committed to improving the health of all employees

·      Health integrated in the company’s mission, policies, practices, and norms

·      Fluid

In some organizations, the stated culture doesn’t match the practices and norms. For example, an organization might state that their employees’ fitness is important to them. They have a wellness program that includes workout sessions and a gym facility. Employees rarely take advantage of these because they fear that others might think they are less dedicated to their job. Managers never join the sessions or use the facilities. Instead, they work through their breaks and work well into the evenings. Although this organization has a workplace wellness program in place, it hasn't established a culture of health.

THE POWER OF SOCIAL NETWORKS

Building a culture of health creates greater returns on investment. Lifestyle behaviours are contagious (whether good or bad). The social network theory looks at how an environment can affect our personal health behaviours.

Ideas and habits that influence our health can spread through social networks, even though those people may be miles away.

The Framingham Heart study found that if one sibling became obese, the chance that another sibling would become obese would increase by 40%. You might think that this is due to genetics. But the same effect occurred if a spouse became obese. And participants that had a friend who became obese would have a 57% greater chance of becoming obese.  Scientists believe this is because our social network influences what we perceive as normal and acceptable. This social network influence is also shown when looking at happiness. Happiness can spread up to 3 degrees of separation (i.e., a co-worker of your friend’s friend can affect your level of happiness).

This same effect occurs within organizations. The influence of social networks can help build (or destroy) a culture of health. It can lead employees to have healthier lifestyles and drive your business forward. When a culture of health is created, your wellness program's engagement and participation rates improve. Employee satisfaction and mental well-being improve. Employees feel empowered and responsible to take care of their health. These positive changes create sustainable and long-term benefits.  

TOP THREE WAYS TO BUILD A CULTURE OF HEALTH

#1. Leadership Support

Creating a top-down approach is essential to create a culture of health.  At Med-I-Well Services, we have designed and implemented many workplace wellness programs. Those that have strong leadership support have produced the greatest health outcomes. Employees see that employers and managers care about them and believe in the program. Employees are far more likely to commit to these changes and programs if they see their leaders do the same. As John C. Maxwell says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

#2. Alignment

Health should be integrated in the day-to-day operations of an organization. It should be embedded within your policies, practices and goals. For example, one of our clients implemented the practice of gratitude and stretching within their meetings. We have created health audits for clients to add to their monthly safety audits. We have prepared healthy menus for client's meetings and events. These are just some examples of ways your organization can help create a health culture.

#3. Program Customization

To produce the greatest benefits from your workplace wellness program, it needs to be customized to your organization's specific needs and interests.

Every organization is so unique. Every employee’s journey to wellness is unique. You will lose interest and buy-in from employees if your offerings don’t match what they need most.

That is why a wellness program must be fluid, adaptable and holistic in nature.

At Med-I-Well Services:

·      We begin by evaluating and analyzing the needs of the organization. We do this using our health risk assessments and health culture survey.  

·      These results drive the design of our program.

·      Ongoing surveys and feedback from employees drive further development of the program.

·      Our programs are holistic. Our team has healthcare professionals with a multitude of backgrounds, experience, and education. We have former professional athletes, personal trainers, registered kinesiologists, smoking cessation specialists, psychotherapists, corrective exercise specialists, public health specialists, and nutrition specialists that can help serve your organization.

COMMITMENT

To create a culture of health, your wellness program must go beyond one 6-week step challenge or one webinar. It must be an ongoing process that aligns with your company's goals, operations and practices. Committing to create a culture of health:

·      Shows your employees that you care

·      Improves their loyalty to you

·      Reduces risk of chronic disease

·      Improves workplace psychological health and safety

·      Withstands the test of time

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