By James Moye, SPHR James is nearing his one year anniversary with Cardinal Management Group, Inc., and has enjoyed bringing his expertise and vast experience to the team. He has recently taken Julie Adamen’s CAM 101 and is looking forward to further participating in WMCCAI and embracing the industry and those who care for it.
EXPLORING FUN WAYS TO THINK ABOUT
Employee Wellness and Stress Management
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ellness and stress management has always been on the radar for most well-lead businesses and there is a wealth of strategies to be applied across the various workplaces. Strategies range from allowing nap time to a designated fitness center for employees and everything in between. All of these efforts are to combat the ongoing challenge, which is …”how do we engage our workforce and ensure they are mindful of their health and wellness?” Without this, your business may find their team overwhelmed, burnt out, or worse…experiencing high employee turnover. Not to mention, in today’s competitive employment environment, the
top candidates are in search of these added perks and place considerable value on creative work/life balance techniques. The financial impact can be a major deterrent for business leaders when considering implementing wellness programs. Providing healthy food options could cost hundreds of dollars a month or offering paid gym memberships that end up not being used is cost prohibitive. The goal should be developing engaging, measurable actions that staff will value and be budget neutral! One way to begin this approach is to develop a committee with the mission of creating wellness pro-
grams, specifically around stress management in the workplace. This committee may be comprised of a cross-departmental team whose purpose is to analyze data trends in the workplace and introduce measures to support a healthier working environment. This approach not only engages committee members and brings a sense of importance and meaning to their work life, but also tackles the challenge of bringing team members from the various departments together. Out with the “us vs. them” and in with the “we are better together” mentality. Developing these types of committees creates an empowered organization of individuals who are committed to the success of the business and their team members. Many employers introduce the concept of the “Balanced Work Week”, which is a strategic effort to create habits throughout the workforce that would impact the team both mentally and physically.
A balanced workweek is a way of looking at each day as an opportunity to create a new skill or offer resources to the staff that could cause a lifestyle change over time. It begins with Mondays, which can focus employees on coming back into the work26 | QUORUM
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