Why Wellness Initiatives are Important to Attract and Retain Talent

Written by: Brett I. Robertson, (5min read)

Health Med. Training Solutions carefully selects researchers, course developers, and educators to serve as Executive Contributors on account of their expertise and substantial understanding of their speciality.

Attracting and retaining talented employees is essential to the success of any business. Wellness initiatives have become increasingly important as part of an organisation’s overall strategy to recruit and retain the best and brightest. By providing programs and activities that focus on employee health and well-being, employers can create an attractive and supportive environment for employees.

“Employee satisfaction is the single most important ingredient for a productive and successful business.”

– John Maxwell

Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

When it comes to attracting and retaining top talent, employers must increasingly look beyond traditional benefits and compensation packages. In today’s competitive marketplace, the most sought-after employees are looking for organisations that value their personal growth and well-being, and wellness initiatives have become an essential component of any employer’s strategy to recruit and retain the best and brightest.

Health and education benefits are an important part of any employee compensation package, but when done in isolation, they may not be enough to adequately meet the complex and diverse wellness needs of your employees. Workplace wellness programs have transformed to consider the person as a whole. Now rather than ‘cherry-picking’ some wellness options, organisations are realising the benefits of considering a multi-dimensional approach as an essential ingredient of an all-encompassing well-being strategy.

“Seeing people as a whole means recognizing the importance of all aspects of their being.”

– David R. Hawkins

Reasons Wellness Initiatives are Key

There are many reasons why wellness initiatives are important for attracting and retaining talent. First and foremost, wellness programs show employees that their health and well-being are a priority for the organization. This is particularly important for millennials, who are increasingly focused on work-life balance and making healthy lifestyle choices. Furthermore, wellness programs can help improve employee productivity, morale and performance, while reducing absenteeism and excess healthcare needs.

Wellness and performance programs have often been viewed as a nice extra, not a strategic imperative, and much has been written about their tangible benefits. A study by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health shows that organisations with highly effective wellness programs report significantly lower voluntary attrition than those whose programs have low effectiveness (9% vs. 15%), while other research showed as low as 4% attrition, who invariably did not actively participate with these programs.

Results from a 2022 Employee Benefits Survey Report suggest that although 61% of small to medium size business (SMB) employees favour professional development benefits offered by employers, only 40% of SMBs offer them.

Implement or Expand Your Wellness Program

If your organisation doesn’t have a wellness and performance program in place, now is a great time to get one started. Health Med. offers an effective researcher-led 5-pillar Workplace Wellness and Performance framework that will provide your employees with the support they need to improve their health. If you already have a wellness program in place, consider expanding it with Health Med.’s multi-dimensional framework and reap the benefits of increased attraction and retention of talent, reduced sick days, improved productivity and team culture, a greater personal satisfaction and professional growth.

5 Top Benefits Key of Wellness at Work

1. Improved Retention + Recruitment.

Wellness programs can help to attract and retain top talent by demonstrating an employer’s commitment to employee wellbeing. 87% of potential employees consider health and wellness offerings when deciding where to work, so having a strong support system in place is an attractive asset. By providing wellness programs that help employees work towards personal goals, businesses can foster a sense of loyalty and appreciation among employees.

2. Improved Morale + Motivation.

Wellness programs can help to increase employee engagement and motivation. By providing employees with resources and support to improve their physical and mental health, employers can help to make their workplace more enjoyable, satisfying and productive. Such programs can also be a great way to break up the day. Through educational activities and fun exercises, employees can learn something new and enjoy the work environment more, leading to better morale and enthusiasm.

3. Greater Engagement + Satisfaction.

By creating a culture of well-being and performance through collective health activities, and personal and professional growth opportunities, employers can foster a stronger connection between staff and their organisations. This, in turn, leads to higher morale, motivation and productivity, in addition to reducing absenteeism, increasing job satisfaction and reducing presenteeism. Employees who are healthier and happier tend to be more productive and efficient.

“Satisfied employees will always be more productive and innovative than unhappy employees.”

– Simon Sinek

4. Education Benefits + Professional Development as a Dimension of Well-being.

In today’s cost-conscious environment, your organisation can stand out from the competition by offering and promoting personal, professional and leadership development opportunities for your employees. Doing so demonstrates your commitment to their career growth and that you value their long-term contribution to your business, it also shows an acute understanding that well-being encompasses the whole person. Furthermore, by providing programs that assist your employees in mastering the skills necessary to advance, you can help shape the growth of your upcoming leaders.

5. Better Mental Resilience + Reduced Stress.

Mindfulness programs, which are often a focus of corporate wellness plans targeting mental well-being, can be very beneficial in the workplace. They can help reduce stress, improve sleep quality, sharpen memory and focus, diminish extreme emotional reactions, and foster adaptability. This last trait is particularly important to employers, as Gallup survey results indicate that 45% of employees who are engaged at work are also more adaptable to change.

“Resilience is about being able to overcome the unexpected and difficult moments in life. It’s about having the mental and emotional strength to keep going, even when times are tough.”

– Shannon L. Alder

Evaluating & Valuing Employee Satisfaction

Talent retention can be seen as a reflection of employee satisfaction. When employees are content, they are less likely to seek other employment opportunities. Organisations can enhance employee satisfaction and therefore retention by making improvements such as providing better working environments, supporting overall well-being or offering more professional development opportunities.

The evaluated statistics will also inform prospective talent as to the work environment created by an organisation. Knowing their personal growth and well-being are valued, allows people to easily align with company values and integrate more seamlessly into dynamic workplace culture.

Final Thoughts

Heads of HR can play a vital role in supporting employee wellness initiatives that can save the organisation significant money and resources, and attract and retain talent in the long run. By incorporating workplace wellness and performance programs into your development strategy, promoting preventive tools, providing access to mental health resources, and supporting employees’ personal and professional development, Heads of HR can ensure that their company’s employees stay healthy, productive and thrive.

Employers should no longer be content with simply being reactive to employee attraction and retention strategies; instead, they should take charge and proactively seek out solutions. Although despite some great results by thousands of organisations, it requires active participation and there is no guarantee of a return on their investment, the effort is worth it.

For more information on how to create a healthy workplace, contact us today.