Let’s get real for a second – I used to think employee wellness programs were just a fancy way to say “gym membership discounts.” Boy, was I wrong! It took a serious wake-up call for me to realize just how crucial these initiatives are.
A few years back, I was burning the candle at both ends, juggling a demanding HR director role at a high-growth startup with my family life. I thought I was superwoman – until I wasn’t. One particularly stressful week, I found myself in the ER with what I thought was a heart attack. Thankfully, it was “just” a panic attack, but it was the slap in the face I needed.
That experience changed everything. Not just for me, but for how I approached employee wellness in my role. I realized that if I, the person responsible for employee wellbeing, was struggling this much, what was happening to everyone else?
So, I dove headfirst into the world of employee wellness platforms. And let me tell you, they’ve come a long way from those basic gym discounts. Here are some of the platforms that have truly impressed me:
Calm
Who knew an app could be a lifesaver? Calm’s meditation and sleep stories have become my nightly ritual. When we rolled it out company-wide, the feedback was incredible. John from accounting, who always looked like he was one spreadsheet away from a meltdown, told me he finally slept through the night for the first time in years.
Headspace for Work
Similar to Calm, but with a more structured approach to mindfulness. What I love about Headspace is its team-based activities. We did a 30-day meditation challenge, and it was amazing to see people from different departments bonding over their mindfulness journeys.
BetterHelp
Online therapy – what a game-changer! When we introduced BetterHelp, I was worried people might be hesitant. But the ability to chat, phone, or video call with a therapist on their own time was a huge hit. Maria, one of our sales reps, told me it saved her marriage. Talk about impact!
Fitbit Health Solutions
Remember when step-counting contests were all the rage? Fitbit takes it to a whole new level. We created inter-department challenges, and suddenly, lunchtime walks became the new normal. I’ll never forget seeing our CEO and an intern power-walking together, deep in conversation about our latest product launch.
Wellable
This platform lets you customize wellness programs to fit your company culture. We used it to create a holistic program that included physical, mental, and financial wellness. The financial wellness webinars were particularly popular – turns out, a lot of us needed help understanding our 401(k)s!
Virgin Pulse
What I love about Virgin Pulse is how it gamifies wellness. Setting goals, earning points, and getting rewards really motivated our team. And the social feed? It turned wellness into a company-wide conversation. Seeing our normally reserved CTO post about his first yoga class was priceless.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Sarah, this all sounds great, but what about the ROI?” Trust me, I had the same question. But after implementing these platforms, we saw sick days decrease by 22%, employee satisfaction scores jump by 37%, and our retention rate improve significantly.
But the real ROI? It’s in the stories. It’s Tom from IT, who lost 50 pounds and now runs marathons. It’s Amy from marketing, who finally got her anxiety under control and landed a huge client. It’s the overall buzz in the office – or these days, on our Zoom calls – of a team that feels cared for and energized.
Here’s the thing – wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for one company might not work for another. My advice? Start small, gather feedback, and be willing to adjust. And most importantly, lead by example. Your team needs to see that it’s okay to prioritize their health.
Remember, a healthy team is a productive team. But more than that, promoting wellness is just the right thing to do. We spend so much of our lives at work; shouldn’t we try to make those hours as healthy and happy as possible?