Holistic wellbeing: Resources to support employees in their day-to-day life

As we navigate a world of work irrevocably altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, holistic wellbeing strategies are gaining traction among employers looking to fully engage employees in their health and wellness.

Adopting a holistic wellness strategy fosters a culture of wellbeing around the total person and supports the six dimensions of wellbeing that affect each of us in day-to-day life: financial, emotional, social, physical, community and career. In this multi-dimensional model, the focus no longer is solely on offering traditional benefits, perks and wellness incentives, but on helping employees feel valued and supported both personally and professionally.

The holistic approach to wellbeing benefits employers by creating an engaged, resilient workforce that is more creative, productive and invested in organizational success. It also creates a competitive advantage in the tight market for talent created by the pandemic-era “Great Resignation,” helping retain the existing workforce and attract new talent interested in working for an organization whose values align with their own.

“Employers who ignore or resist this shift toward a holistic strategy that prioritizes total employee wellbeing do so at their own peril. You might not be offering flexible work schedules, work-enhancing tech tools, extensive mental-health support and childcare benefits, but your competitors are,” said Liz Euglow, Director, Total Wellbeing and Engagement at Boston Benefit Partners, an Alera Group company.

The transformation to the type of holistic wellbeing program employers need to compete in today’s job market requires a long-term strategy. Cultural change takes time, and organizations must evaluate the needs of their workforce and design comprehensive programs to meet the workforce where it is now and where it’s going.

The following articles can help human resource professionals understand the trends shaping holistic wellbeing strategies and help build the foundation for a holistic wellbeing program. Sharing these and similar resources with employees can help demonstrate the organization’s commitment to holistic wellbeing and help guide employees on their path to wellness.

Career

Now more than ever, employees want meaningful work and success within the workplace. Holistic wellbeing strategies support professional growth and development while promoting work-life integration. These resources will help employees be more productive and invested in their work.

• 10 Things We Don’t Do That Help Us Get Our Important Tasks Done – Helpful productivity tips that go beyond crossing off a to-do list.
• Are You Suffering from Collaboration Overload? – A look at how individuals and organizations can avoid engaging in too much of a good thing.

Social and family

It’s essential to recognize employees as individuals with varying needs. These resources help employees build and maintain supportive relationships with self, environment, work and family.

• Reminder: Whenever You Say “Yes” to Something, You’re Saying “No” to Something Else – “No” is the way to go if it enables you to do something more important.
• How to Get Kids to Tell You About Their Day – Helpful strategies to get children to open up.
• A Secret Anti-Stress Weapon for Working Parents – Learn how to embrace “Parenting Loudly” at work to allow employees to feel more connected to their organizations and to alleviate some of the stress many workers are feeling.

Financial

Financial security provides freedom of choice now and in the future. These resources provide insight into budgeting and long-term financial planning.

• Your Complete Guide to Estate Planning – Who will inherit or manage your assets when you’re no longer able to manage them yourself? Here are the steps to take now.
• 8 Tips to Help You Control Holiday Spending – How to plan and stay on budget throughout the new year.

Physical

Help employees practice healthy habits that promote building strength, flexibility and endurance. These resources address the importance of sleep and diet to overall health.

• The Podcast for All Things Sleep – Informative podcast about sleep, the brain and your body.
• How to Master Hunger and Cravings – Learn how diet, stress, and sleep affect the body’s ability to manage hormones and control appetite.

Emotional

Emotional wellbeing is a key factor in overall health. Employers can support emotional wellbeing by creating a compassionate, open environment in which each individual is recognized and supported.

It also creates a competitive advantage in the tight market for talent created by the pandemic-era “Great Resignation,” helping retain the existing workforce and attract new talent interested in working for an organization whose values align with their own.

“One of the positive developments during the pandemic has been heightened employer awareness and sensitivity to their employees’ mental health. Many have responded by providing well-being webinars for both employees and managers, by delivering targeted communication programs, and by encouraging employees to use resources such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), virtual behavioral health and available time off,” says Andrea Davis, Director of Wellbeing at Alera Group.

These resources provide mental health guidance and underscore the importance of building quiet time into your daily schedule.

• The Busier You Are, the More You Need Quiet Time – A look at how quiet time restores the nervous system, helps sustain energy and facilitates clear and creative thinking.
• Mental Health Resources Guide for Individuals – From digital apps to podcasts to webinars, videos and more, this collection of links can help you achieve personal wellness.
• It’s a New Era for Mental Health at Work – A look at the state of mental health, stigma and work culture in U.S. workplaces before and during the pandemic.

Community

Individuals gain a sense of purpose and enrichment through community engagement. This resource demonstrates how volunteers gain enrichment by sharing services, skills and talents.

• Meet the Photographers Who Volunteer Their Time to Help Pets Get Adopted – Doing something you love with someone you care about can benefit multitudes.

Sharing these links to helpful resources alone won’t prevent members of your team from looking for other employment opportunities, but it may help demonstrate the empathy you feel for the challenges they face at home, as well as at work – reinforcing your employee benefit program’s holistic approach to the six dimensions of wellbeing.

Sally Prather is executive vice president and employee benefits practice leader at Alera Group.