Managing employee health in 'the new normal'
By Jennifer Emery, The Wellness Partners
'Pivot! Pivot! Pivot!' - Not just a funny sitcom moment from Friends, but this quote is apt for the working world in 2021 and beyond!
This last year my clients have had to pivot from their normal daily routines as the pandemic affected nearly every aspect of life, from work and school to everyday activities like getting groceries and even our wardrobes.
As a Fitness expert I took time to figure out what is next and how do we maintain our health without access to gyms and fitness studios. Exercise for our physical and mental wellbeing became more important than any other time in history.
My corporate clients reported staff morale was low and many staff were struggling with lockdown fatigue. With Physical and mental health issues on the rise, I started to diversify my services. The key was to use fitness to help employers support their staff to become mentally tougher. Employers were looking for ways to kick-start a fun and supportive benefit. I knew exercise and music were at the heart of this. I wanted the support to be live, not just a recording.
And so, The Wellness Partners was born!
Organisations need a plan to combat staff physical and mental health wellbeing – as restrictions lift, and quickly, as we move back to 'the new normal'. I've helped many organisations and thousands of people train at home successfully, and I want to help more do the same.
So, how exactly do companies go about this?
The first step is by supporting your employees’ physical, mental, and emotional health. Investing in our health is more important than ever before.
We are all aware of the business impact on investing in the health of your employees.
The Wellness Partners offer employers a personalised health and wellness plan for your employees that promotes activities to keep them physically healthy, improve their mood, and keep them engaged - all from the comfort and safety of their home.
This could include:
- Regular online workout classes, such as HIIT, yoga, dance, or strength training, that allow colleagues to get fit and have fun together regardless of whether they are working from home or in the office.
- Virtual wellness webinars, which can include topics such as body rehab for the home workspace, mindfulness through the day and relaxation to escape the busyness of the mind whilst working from home, to help employees and colleagues feel supported and offer important skills for them to achieve work/life balance.
- Calendar of regular staff events - even if they are held over Zoom - to allow employees to socialise and connect, even if it is from their dining room table!
Encouragement from your organisation’s leadership is key to engagement. By taking the lead in offering programming to your employees, they will feel supported and encouraged in their pursuit for a healthy body and mind as we finally come out of lockdown. Healthy and happy workers result in fewer sick days, increased engagement and enhanced productivity - which is certainly in the best interest of your organisation.