A Culture of Wellness at the Workplace - Holistic Health - Medicine ...

Last week, I had the good fortune of attending the VT Worksite Wellness Conference for the 2^nd year in a row.? This is a great event that gives participants the opportunity to share and learn about how to create a healthy workplace.? The governor starts the day off by presenting awards to businesses that have made exceptional progress in developing a healthy workplace.? The remainder of the day is chock full of workshops, exhibits, and a best practices panel.

While much of the great information from years past is still extremely relevant, I think this year?s speakers took their thinking on the future of worksite wellness to a new level.? As I couldn?t attend all of the workshops, the key takeaways I share below are from presentations made by Dr. Rosie Ward (Ph.D. in Organization and Management) and one of my amazing business partners, Morella Devost (Partner at Transformation One, EdM, MA).

Key themes in the future of worksite health promotion:

1. A shift in focus from ?Health? to ?Well-Being?
   • This moves beyond just a focus on physical health to a focus on the 5 key elements of well-being:? Career well-being, Social well-being, Financial well-being, Physical well-being, Community well-being
   • When we focus too much in one area and neglect others, our wellness efforts are less likely to succeed
2. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation (change from within a person vs. ?carrots and sticks?)
   • Extrinsic motivation (financial incentives etc) typically fail in the long run.
   • If employees do not feel valued, they may look at any wellness program as a something forced upon them and may resist it.
   • Companies are most successful when they focus on supporting employees to change (via environment and culture) vs. trying to ?fix them?.
3. Culture is multi-dimensional (not the sum of all of the great programs you offer)
   • Culture is shaped by the totality of everything that happens at your workplace (policies, leadership styles, ?unspoken rules?, employee recognition, etc
   • You need to understand how your employees perceive your culture.? Ask them via survey, focus groups or otherwise (and be prepared to do something with their feedback)
4. Culture is shaped methodically through continuous feedback, data, planning, execution and leadership
   • When you ask your employees how they perceive the organization and culture, you then have to act on it.
   • Measure the status quo and use your data to determine areas that need improvement.? Develop plans to address those areas of needs.? Engage leaders through all levels of the organization to execute your plans.? Communicate to your employees how you are responding to their feedback.? Measure again.
5. You need passionate leaders to move people
   • You need someone senior who is passionate about your cause to support you from the top and?
   • You need an army of other leaders at all levels of the organization to be peer leaders and influencers.
6. Wellness culture is multi-dimensional
   • 5 key organizational drivers: Policies, Leadership, Tools, Programs, Support
   • 6 keys to individual wellbeing: Nutrition, Fitness, Emotional Health, Preventive Care, Financial Health, Individual Mindset and Behavior Change

The Punch Line:

If your employees are frustrated with their job, are stressed about money, have family problems or other challenges, they are not going to ?engage? in a wellness program and/or those wellness related programs may not really help them long-term (i.e. if I dislke my boss, I?m probably not going to join him/her in the company walking program).

You need to truly understand what things are keeping your employees from being ?well? and then do what you can to support them in terms of creating a workplace culture that supports them in improving those areas of their lives and also makes them feel valued, cared for, and stimulated.

How Is wellness working at your organization?? Please feel free to share!

If you?d like to receive a complimentary copy of Transformation One?s ?11 Keys to Creating a Culture of Wellness?, please email adavis@transformationone.com.

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