Written by: Olga Moreno
Health and wellness are central parts of our company culture. Not only do we work with many brands in the health and fitness sector, and truly believe in their mission, but we are also firm believers in the fact that healthy employees are happy employees. And with happiness comes creativity, productivity, collaboration, high morale, fun, and retention, among other valuable elements of a successful corporate environment.
Since the company’s inception, we’ve established many employee-led wellness and mindfulness initiatives, including expressing gratitude at our weekly team strategy meeting, weekly in-house yoga classes, HIIT mini-workouts, daily walks and runs by San Diego’s Seaport Village and The Embarcadero (which is just steps away from our office), monthly in-office massages, team outings to go kayaking and trampoline jumping, access to healthy snacks in the office, and the list goes on. With so many options for workplace wellness, we can accomplish our work while also achieving our personal wellness goals.
Here are the reasons employee wellness programming is an essential part of any successful company. An on-site wellness program:
Enhances Company Culture. Workplace wellness programs create a sense of camaraderie. They offer an opportunity to support and hold each other accountable for wellness goals while offering an opportunity to connect on a deeper level outside of the regular work day. Additionally, when a company is rooted in health and mindfulness, it helps build a positive, empowering and inclusive culture in the workplace. Increases Productivity. Fatigue in the workplace is a productivity killer. Wellness programs inherently remove workers from their office chairs and mental blocks by improving blood flow and offering a moment to reset. When employees are productive, and complete projects successfully and on time, they feel more accomplished and are often acknowledged by their manager or employer, which adds to their overall happiness in the workplace. Sparks Creativity. Cardiovascular exercise enhances the neurological conditions for creative thinking by releasing serotonin. Most people feel reenergized, rejuvenated, clearheaded and highly creative after a workout. For me specifically, creativity especially comes after a run, a walk around the block, a relaxing yoga class or a 5-10-minute meditation. When I’m able to step away from my desk, disconnect from all electronics, and at the very least get outside and go for a walk around the neighborhood, I feel reenergized and much more creative than if I try to power through a task while losing steam. Improves Recruitment and Retention. Data shows that having employee wellness programming makes a significant impact on your ability to recruit and retain employees. There are a lot of factors that go into an employee’s decision to take a job outside of salary, such as benefits, work perks, and company culture. A rich wellness program can impact employee retention—when employees are healthy, they are happier and more loyal to their employers.
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Workplace wellness programs that encourage physical activity are good at helping employees adopt and maintain healthy behaviors day-to-day and can improve the overall health and wellbeing of the workforce. When employees are healthy, both physically and mentally, they’re more productive, less stressed, happier, take fewer sick days, and are more engaged within their workplace.
