Why You Should Plan a Corporate Wellness Day for Your Business

Wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular lately—and for good reason! When executed properly, corporate wellness programs can help improve the health and behaviors of employees. Many wellness programs began as perks for large companies, however, they are becoming more common among medium and small corporations. After all, they can boost the morale and productivity of all employees. Here are a few reasons why you should plan a corporate wellness day for your business.

1. Wellness days can help change employee health habits.

Employees love free food. Many wellness days will include a nutrition class to educate employees about what kinds of foods provide energy and improve mental health. As an incentive, a free, healthy meal can be provided.

There is a lot of information about different health claims out there. For every health benefit, there is always a downside, too. This can cause a lot of confusion and misinformation to be spread. However, a nutritionist can clarify these claims and help ease any concerns the employees may have. They will learn how to make better nutrition decisions.

Studies have shown that effective wellness programs can actually lower healthcare costs. After all, healthy employees will be at a lower risk for health complications, saving money on health care costs in the long run.

2. Wellness days can improve business productivity.

Many of us can relate to physically being at work, but mentally being somewhere else. As a result, not much work gets done, making it important to treat mental health to enable employees to focus and stay productive while at work. Perhaps an employee is overly stressed, distracted by others, or is overly tired. Whatever the case may be, decrease productivity can put a damper on a business's finances.

Wellness days take into account the whole employee—from mental and physical health to financial wellness to work-life balance. Good wellness programs will increase productivity by decreasing absenteeism, boosting performance, reducing stress, and encouraging time management.

3. Wellness days might improve employee retention and give incentives to employee recruitment.

Wellness days are an opportunity to show employees how much their work is valued. It also offers incentives and benefits that will encourage them to better their lives and workplace performance. After all, some of the top reasons people quit jobs are due to lack of recognition, disrespect, feeling over-stressed, lack of work-life balance, and unhealthy work environment. Wellness days attempt to tackle all of these issues—and that kind of gesture goes a long way.

On the other hand, wellness days are a great incentive to recruiting new employees. A prospective employee may be more apt to choose a business that offers wellness days rather than one that does not. This will show a prospective employee that the company really cares about the well-being of the entire company. Rich benefits and wellness incentives are great for retaining old employees and drawing new ones in.

4. Wellness days help boost employee morale and collaboration.

It is no secret that employees are healthier and harder working when they are happy. By offering wellness days to employees, the company is showing the workforce that their employees are respected, trusted, and valued. In addition, it gives employees the opportunity to collaborate with and converse with their fellow employees.

Wellness days inspire employees to embrace creativity, problem solve, build teamwork, and develop self-esteem. A good wellness program will help employees reach their goals, work more effectively with others, and appreciate their position at work. As a result, employee morale is enhanced.

Corporate wellness initiatives should be tailored to fit a company's unique culture and can involve a variety of activities. A healthy employee is a happy employee, and happy employees make for a great workplace. If you haven't done so yet, it might be time to consider incorporating wellness days into your workplace.