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Indiana SHRM News
Indiana SHRM News

Why it Pays Off to Invest in Employee Wellbeing

In recent years, employee wellness has become a hot topic in the HR community. As HR professionals, we share a common responsibility to help cultivate positive workplaces and shape organizational culture.

But as many companies are starting to take employee wellness programs more seriously, tactics like in-office yoga classes and dog-friendly workspaces have been criticized as surface-level efforts that turn a blind eye to the serious issues that affect employees’ health and happiness like health insurance and time off policies.

There are many angles to employee wellbeing, and there’s no wrong way to take care of your employees, whether it’s offering mental health resources or organizing fun activities in the office every now and then. 

When organizations take steps (big or small) to invest in employee wellbeing, everyone wins. Companies benefit from healthier workers in many ways — read on to see how.

Healthy employees are productive employees.

We’ve all had those days at work when we’re just not feeling our best. Sure, you can make it through a day of work when you’re nursing a cold or fighting a headache. But when we’re not feeling healthy enough to do our best, our organizations miss out on our full potential.

That’s why employers should make sure workers have the resources they need to stay healthy. When employees are feeling their best, they’ll work harder and be able to perform to their highest ability, resulting in more efficient and higher-quality work on behalf of your organization.

Wellness benefits attract new talent.

We’re seeing a growing trend among Millennials and Gen Z with rising expectations for employee wellness perks. It’s easy to joke about Millennials expecting ping pong tables and avocado toast in the modern office, but their heads really are in the right place regarding wellness.

Younger generations know that they can do their best work when their health and wellness is cared for by their employers. That’s why developing and promoting an employee wellness program can help you attract new and emerging talent. Expectations are higher than ever, and the next generation cares about their health and wellbeing at work.

You can’t put a price on happy employees.

At the end of the day, employers should invest in employee wellbeing because it’s the right thing to do. Every employee deserves to be taken care of by their employer. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to focus on the work we have in front of us, without looking at the bigger picture. We all have a responsibility as HR professionals to take care of our organizations’ team members. Happy employees mean a healthy business.

For more info, check out SHRM’s wellness resources and learn how to design an effective wellness program for your organization.