Creating a culture of healthy and happy employees is critical to any company’s success, which is why most successful organizations offer employee wellness programs in their benefits packages. While employee wellness has become a popular buzzword in many LinkedIn articles and corporate circles, most employees urge that wellness is more than one free therapy session or a catered lunch for whichever team in the office wins a “global steps challenge.”

What is employee wellness, why is it important, and what employee wellness initiatives actually matter to employees today? Let’s take a closer look.

What is Environmental Employee Wellness?

According to Northwestern University, “Environmental wellness is defined as occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being.” In other words, it is the act of cultivating a work environment that promotes mental and physical health, supports healthy collaboration amongst teams, and actively identifies and addresses common health risks and workplace stressors like stress, high blood pressure, obesity, and more.

One aspect of wellness is less individual and more of a collaborative effort, including those who occupy a common space—whether it be the office or the planet we all share. Environmental wellness is another aspect of employee wellness that promotes a healthy work environment. It enables greater kindness and fosters conditions for greater happiness and productivity, which we know is key to achieving professional and personal goals.

While clean air, lower stress levels, and opportunities for more physical activity are a few of the focuses of environmental wellness in the workplace, they all contribute to a greater sense of purpose and a commitment to supporting the sustainability of resources.

How to Implement Employee Wellness Initiatives That Matter

Many employee awareness initiatives exist to check corporate boxes that show on paper how dedicated they are to cultivating a happy, healthy workforce. But it’s important to listen to the voices of your organization to determine what matters most to them, especially if you want to attract top talent. Surveys can be a great tool to assess the priorities of your employees, gauge the effectiveness of wellness initiatives already in place, and identify opportunities for improvement and to further employee wellness.

Some common goals companies are continuously working toward globally include:

Increasing awareness of the impact our surroundings have on employees
Redesigning and improving spaces that better support and provide for employees’ needs
Finding ways to operate in ways that are harmonious with our natural environment
Creating structures that support the four R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Re-think, Recycle)

ChenMed’s Dedication to Environmental Wellness

At ChenMed, health and wellness are goals that extend not only to patients. Efforts to create a wellness culture that flows from their team members to their patients and into the community are constantly at the forefront. ChenMed’s team members are empowered and encouraged to participate in various environmental wellness initiatives to create workspaces that support a greater sense of well-being and an environment that fosters greater connectivity.

ChenMed is also continually finding ways to foster work-life balance as parents juggle work and families following the challenging past few years. From offering paid family leave for new parents (both mothers and fathers) to robust paid time off (PTO) banks that include flexible floating holidays as well as paid government holidays, ChenMed knows that wellness in the workplace is a win-win for their employees, their patients, and the community at large.

“Our team members’ wellness is essential to our success,” explains Maria Slater, Clinical Voice Manager. “It’s our privilege to be in a position in which we can advocate for our team member’s needs and to cultivate a culture of wellness in the workplace.”

ChenMed Recognized as one of 2022's Healthiest Employers

We are honored to announce that Dedicated Senior Care, a ChenMed Company, has been recognized as one of 2022's Healthiest Employers in Texas and Ohio! As a mission-driven organization, we honor seniors with affordable VIP care that not only improves long-term health outcomes but breaks down quality-of-life deterrents for seniors across the United States.

In addition to prioritizing our patients, we also prioritize the well-being of the employees caring for them. Led by our culture team and employee feedback, we’re actively creating an environment where our employees can access programs and resources that support workplace wellness in Texas and throughout the United States.

Our tenured and progressive wellness programs include:

Paid family leave for new parents (both mothers and fathers)
PTO, dedicated sick bank, paid government holidays, and flexible use of floating holidays
TeamCare – our onsite clinic specifically for employees
Employee recognition programs and events – Currently celebrating SummerFest
Perks at Work – employee discount program

Join the future of healthcare and learn more about ChenMed Careers today!

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