Three game-changing initiatives for employers
By Camryn Suntha | July 2024
Workplace culture is at a turning point: 40% of US employees feel that their job negatively impacts their mental health. Additionally, less than 25% of US workers believe that their organization cares about their well-being. That is a 50% decrease from pre-pandemic levels.
Some forward-thinking employers are pursuing innovative strategies to prioritize workplace well-being. These are a few that we are talking about at Archetype:
1. Fitness and wellness stipends
Fitness and wellness stipends provide employees the freedom to invest uniquely in their well-being (e.g., gym memberships, healthy meal delivery services, fitness clothing, ergonomic office furniture). By offering this flexibility, the organization acknowledges responsibility for their well-being while simultaneously honoring the diversity of its workforce. Fitness and wellness stipends allow employees to adopt a unique approach to health, shifting the organization’s wellness journey from a “one size fits all” to a highly personalized fitness strategy, rather than an abundance of inapplicable benefit solutions.
2. Mindfulness and gratitude programming
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) techniques like yoga, meditation, or mindfulness workshops, provide an actionable means of decreasing workplace stress. After participating in a 42-hour MBSR course, employees’ self-reported considerably decreased markers of negative well-being (e.g., feelings of depression, burnout, hostility, negative affect). These results remained salient through a five-month follow-up. Along with reducing negative feelings across employee populations, analysts correlate this MBSR course with higher performance ratings and lower turnover levels.
Simple implementations of MBSR techniques through informal employee networks, meditation lunches, MBSR newsletters, and dedicated “meditation offices” allow employers and employees to benefit from the power of mindfulness.
3. On-site wellness facilities
The idea of running a 5k during a lunch break may turn some stomachs, but the rise of on-site fitness facilities offers employees easier access to the benefits of physical activity during the often sedentary workday.
Through physical activity, employees may experience enhanced cognitive function (boosting problem-solving skills and memory), stress reduction (due to the endorphin release), and reduced fatigue. Additionally, by providing group fitness classes, corporations may boost employee collaboration and team building that extends outside of the studio. Fitness services at or near the office may also attract employees back to the office in hybrid and post-pandemic environments.
The advantages of a healthy workforce extend far past the gym. Employees who prioritize physical and mental wellness promote self-agency, high productivity, and collaboration among worker populations. By implementing these creative wellness initiatives, employers both demonstrate a clear commitment to their employees’ well-being and attract top talent within a competitive marketplace.
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** Camryn is a Summer Intern at Archetype. She is a rising senior at Brown University, pursuing a degree in Economics and certificate in Entrepreneurship and has a passion for fitness and wellbeing. **