How to improve mental wellbeing in a hybrid workplace

No matter how we slice it, the return to in-person work can be stressful. Some companies are easing the transition with hybrid work environments. While this approach has some big benefits, challenges remain. In the face of high burnout and employee turnover rates, employee mental health needs to be a priority as the modern day workplace evolves.

Employees have sustained an enormous amount of change in both their personal and professional lives and need support as they continue to flex with hybrid work environments — many for the first time ever. One survey involving nearly 13,000 employees from 28 different countries found that 55% of employees experienced stress related to changes in their work routines during the pandemic. In some cases, working from home during a pandemic and fluctuating economy may have exacerbated existing struggles with depression, insomnia, alcoholism, obesity, smoking, and other health-related challenges. Others may be experiencing significant anxiety about an eventual return to the office.

As a result, there is an increased demand for wellness resources. To address this shift, corporate benefits need to adapt to the needs of all of their employees, whether on-site or remote. Here’s how:

Meet employees where they are

Workplace wellness programs and benefits need to adapt to the hybrid setting and meet employees where they are. The workplace has changed dramatically in the last two years and it’s time for a fresh approach to supporting wellbeing in the hybrid workplace. In short, companies need to shake up their menu of workplace wellness offerings.

Offer snack-sized content. In recent years, there has been a noticeable change in content preferences. Consumers often prefer and even expect content to be presented in bite-sized formats. Wellness content needs to transform as employees embrace quick-hit content via Tik Tok and YouTube.

Customize the experience. In addition to the need for an easy-to-digest format, wellness content and programs also need to be engaging and personalized. Employees are more likely to complete programs and reach their goals with customized and engaging care pathways and content.

Serve up a blend of coaching. Giving employees access to on-demand, digital, and live coaching options with healthy living content allows them to get the support they need in the most convenient way.

Engage your employees. Communication is a two-way street so employers need to seek out employees’ feedback — really listen and then act. Only when companies really understand the needs and wants of employees in relation to their wellness goals can they build an impactful wellness program.

Recognizing what meaningful change means to employees and to the workplace will allow companies to provide resources that will be truly impactful.

Leverage technology

Companies can leverage technology in a variety of ways to help employees access the support that they need. Through technology, companies can create easily accessible and scalable ways for their employees to ask for help.

Remove stigma. Sadly, there is often a stigma attached to supporting mental health, so self-directed tools can be powerful resources to allow employees to get help or make positive changes in a way that is comfortable and discreet. HIPAA compliant platforms also ensure that employee data stays private.

Personalize wellness programs. Technology also gives companies the ability to create personalized programs. White-label solutions can help providers tailor programs to their specific audiences.

Automate, automate, automate. Enrollment, reminders, and surveys can be automated so that organizations can effortlessly drive employee engagement at scale and get the full value out of their wellness programs.

Create accessible content. Accessing on-the-go content is very important to many consumers. To accommodate this, content audio format like podcasts, or mobile apps can be used to provide easy access to support that can be used anywhere, at any time.

Embrace the role of company culture

Corporate wellness is a big part of company culture. The resources and wellness offerings that are provided by a company should be a clear reflection of the company culture. However, a wellness platform cannot fix a company’s culture — the company first needs to truly care about the health and wellbeing of its employees. This is a worthwhile endeavor, since both the employees and the company benefit. According to the World Health Organization, for every one dollar that is put into scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders like anxiety and depression, there is a return of four dollars in improved health and productivity. Addressing wellness problems head-on can also increase a company’s employee net promoter score, or eNPS

The health and wellness of employees impact every aspect of both their personal and professional lives. Work attendance, productivity, and overall company morale are all improved when wellbeing concerns are properly addressed. Not to mention, employees’ overall quality of life is also significantly improved.

Read more: How to get the hybrid work balance right

There is almost always room for improvement in this area, but companies need not feel overwhelmed by the changes that may need to be made. Turning on an effective wellness program that works is often easier than it may seem. To help get a company’s wellness program up and running quickly, companies can use a blend of specifically designed technology and behavioral courses to provide effective support.

As more and more companies embrace the hybrid approach, it’s important to remember to focus on workplace wellness. By doing so, companies can provide their employees with the support they need in a way that will make a meaningful difference.

Clark Lagemann is a seasoned entrepreneur and innovator on a mission to change lives by fixing the biggest problems in health care. Currently, as CEO of Avidon Health, he leads a team of behavior change experts who are passionate about providing health strategies that empower people to make positive life changes.