8 Ways to Boost Employee Wellbeing

1. Offer Flexwork Options

Let’s face it, spending 40 hours per week in the office doesn’t appeal to many employees. From childcare to managing their own health issues, or just wanting the agency to define their workday, offering flex-work options can boost employee wellbeing. Consider offering any one or combination of the following flexwork alternatives:

• Compressed hours: When an employee works a full 35-40 hours per week in fewer than five days.
• Staggered hours: When an employee is able to take varying/unique break times and start/finish times to the workday.
• Hybrid work: When employees work in the office for X number of days per week, and at home the remainder of the time.
• Remote work: When an employee works from home (or anywhere that is not the office) full-time.
• Job sharing: When two or more part-time employees share the job duties, hours, and salary of a single, full-time position.
• Extra personal time off (PTO)/paid leave purchase options: When employees are offered the option to purchase additional PTO to suit their personal life/preferences.
• Volunteer leave: When employees take off from work, with pay, to volunteer at an organization during their normal working hours.

No matter which flexwork option they choose, you’ll want to equip them with the tools and resources they need to thrive, such as a personalized Work from Home kit from Crestline.

2. Invest in Your Employees’ Health Goals

Offer benefits and perks that show your employees their health is a priority. We don’t just mean loading the communal kitchen with protein bars and fresh fruit, either – Although, they’ll likely appreciate that gesture!

From offering items that encourage your employees to focus on self-care to giving everyone a monthly fitness or wellness reimbursement or gym membership, there are countless ways to invest in their health goals. We recommend sending out an employee survey to gain a clearer understanding of what their health goals are and how your company can best help them achieve those goals.

3. Prioritize Positive Recognition

Your employees want to feel seen. Knowing they’ve done a good job, and that the company appreciates their efforts can have a positive impact on their well-being. Recognizing their contributions will also reinforce the organization’s commitment to them reaching their full potential.

Not sure how to strengthen your culture of recognition? Pencil in an annual Employee Appreciation Day, where you acknowledge everyone's contributions. You could even create an Employee Spotlight section on your website’s homepage to showcase your star employees.

4. Get Behind Volunteering Initiatives & Community Wellbeing

Your employees spend the majority of their lives outside of work in their local communities. They likely have charities and causes they’re passionate about. Giving back to our communities by volunteering time, effort, and resources to a charitable cause can relieve stress, give us perspective, and inspire gratitude.

Rallying your employees behind a volunteering effort or charitable cause will show them you’re invested in the wellbeing of your community, too. You can encourage and incentivize them to choose a cause, or you could commit to a company-wide volunteering initiative.

5. Provide an Employee Assistance Program

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help your employees (and immediate family members) find around-the-clock support for personal issues that are derailing their work performance and wellbeing.

Here are some common issues/situations where an EAP can offer support for your employees:

• Support with loss and grief
• Stress management
• Mental health
• Counseling referrals
• Crisis management
• Elder care referral
• Divorce
• Childcare services
• Financial advice

6. Plan Frequent Out-of-Office Meet-Ups

Another way to boost employee wellbeing is by organizing company-wide social events. This way, they can form and deepen friendships with one another and communicate on a more personal level.

The result? A more cohesive workplace community that fortifies your company culture — both essential to employee wellbeing and job satisfaction.

7. Model & Encourage Work-Life Balance

You can talk the talk when it comes to supporting employee wellbeing and work-life balance, but if you want your employees to believe you’re invested, then you must walk the walk, too. That starts with leading by example.

Start by reflecting on your own wellbeing. Here are a few questions to consider:

• Do I work later hours/leave after everyone else?
• Am I short-tempered or displaying other signs of stress?
• Do I answer emails and messages off the clock and during the weekend?
• Do I delegate responsibilities to others?
• When was the last time I used PTO?
• Do I engage in hobbies and leisure activities outside of work?
• Do I work even when I’m sick?

We all know, sometimes doing these things is inevitable. However, if you find that you’ve answered “yes” to many or even most of these questions, it’s a good idea to devote more time to your own wellbeing.

8. Offer Out-of-the-Box Rewards for a Job Well Done

While every employee appreciates acknowledgment and praise from their leaders, consider sweetening the moment with an out-of-the-box reward they’ll love.

When it comes to rewards, the world’s your oyster! You could start with Crestline’s line of personalized company swag to show your appreciation.

Or, you could even reinforce your commitment to their wellbeing and to the environment with an eco-friendly gift. Consider splurging on local museum tickets or restaurant gift certificates. Of course, you can’t go wrong with performance bonuses, either!