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Looking for an employee motivation and wellness short course? BOTI runs a one-day Health and Wellness at Work Training course and a one-day Employee Motivation Course. Both can be delivered in-house, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online, and you can compare them with related options among our health, safety and wellness training courses. This guide explains what workplace wellness is, why it matters and how to build a culture of wellness that lasts.
Many companies are still coming to grips with the idea of wellness in the workplace. Some employers link wellness only to physical health and assume that, as long as people are functioning, employees do not need help. Most organisations now recognise that workplace wellness also covers mental and emotional health. In the current South African socio-economic climate, it is a sensible area to invest in, because healthier employees support better business performance.
What exactly is Workplace Wellness?
Workplace wellness means promoting health activities and policies within the organisation that reinforce positive employee health and behaviour. Organisations can draw on many tools to build a company culture of good health, from medical screenings and health education to fitness programmes and wellness training.
Businesses that invest in their people understand the benefits of workplace wellness. Employees who feel well and supported are more inclined to perform better, take the initiative, manage their time well and find ways to improve productivity.
Why is Workplace Wellness a critical factor in the World of Work?
The pandemic years and the changes that followed in the world of work showed how quickly employee health affects an organisation. Organisations should therefore be willing to invest time, resources and clear policies in employee health initiatives. Workplace wellness remains important given the socio-economic pressures many employees face.
Here are the main reasons why organisations should make employee health a priority:
- Healthy employees are more engaged in their work and are less likely to run up high healthcare and medical aid costs.
- Employees who are well supported are less likely to suffer from burnout and stress-related ailments, which affect concentration and safety at work.
- Healthy employees take fewer sick days.
- When employees are happy to work at a company, its reputation improves, and it becomes easier to attract and keep good people.
Boosting Health and Wellness Programs
Identifying potential health risks and unhealthy behaviours is a good starting point for building a healthy workforce. Wellness programmes can address many employee pain points by covering the effects of poor eating habits, substance abuse and stress, as well as emotional distress caused by work-related issues. To implement these programmes effectively, organisations should:
- Choose healthcare policies that cover physical, emotional and mental health as they apply to the modern workplace.
- Involve qualified specialists to oversee wellness programmes, including one-on-one sessions with employees.
- Encourage regular employee health assessments, so that employees can address underlying physical, mental and emotional health risks early.
- Ask leaders to work with the specialists in the employee wellbeing programme to show that people at every level of the organisation can face health issues. Employees should be able to speak up about a problem without fear of retribution or of being seen as weak. In that kind of supportive environment, people know they have dedicated support to carry out their duties in a healthy and effective way.
Wellness-promoting tips for employees
Feeling good, full of energy and motivated makes a difference at work and in other areas of life. Not every day will be perfect, but small, steady habits build a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few tips to help you reach small but important wellness goals:
- Keep your workstation clutter-free by putting things back where they belong. Find a place for everything and keep everything in its place.
- Set your phone alarm to go off every hour as a prompt to take a short break to stretch, walk and drink some water.
- Make meditation part of your routine. You could book a meeting room and invite a few co-workers to a short meditation session at an agreed time. This is a healthy mental practice and also builds team unity.
- Eat healthily to keep your energy levels steady through the day.
- Put a plant or two around your workstation to make the space calmer and more comfortable.
Good practices for creating wellness in the workplace
Organisations that run effective wellness programmes tend to follow a few common practices:
Developing an Annual Operating Plan
An annual operating plan helps the organisation assess its current situation and decide which programmes will benefit both employees and the business. It also sets a budget, a timeline and the people responsible for each activity.
Establishing a Wellness Team
A dedicated wellness team that focuses on the wellness plan can make a real difference, and it signals that wellness is part of the organisation’s culture. Choose team members for their relevant experience and their willingness to take responsibility for running the programme.
Offering Employees Lifestyle Coaching Programs
Lifestyle coaching helps people set realistic goals and work through obstacles, both at work and in their personal lives.
Fostering a supportive environment
Organisations revamping a wellness programme, or launching one for the first time, should present employee wellness as a benefit, not a perk. It should sit alongside healthcare and paid leave as part of the employment package.
Communicating Effectively
Clear communication gets everyone on the same page. Without it, employers cannot understand what their employees actually need, and they risk spending money on wellness plans that do not work. Short surveys, team discussions and feedback from the wellness team all help.
Regularly evaluate wellness program outcomes
Companies track metrics to judge their marketing and other initiatives. Wellness deserves the same treatment: track participation, absenteeism and employee feedback, and adjust the programme as needed.
Where wellness and motivation training fits
Wellness and motivation are closely linked. Employees who are exhausted or anxious find it hard to stay motivated, and teams that feel undervalued are more prone to stress. Training gives managers and employees a shared language and practical tools, so a wellness programme does not rest on policies alone.
Depending on what your team needs, BOTI’s short courses can support different parts of a wellness culture:
- Employee Motivation Course for managers who want to keep their teams engaged and committed.
- Stress Management Training for employees and managers dealing with pressure and heavy workloads.
- Work-Life Balance Course for people who struggle to switch off or manage competing demands.
- Managing Workplace Anxiety Course for teams going through change or uncertainty.
For more ideas on building a healthier team, read our article on wellness in the workplace and building resilient teams.
To recap: employees are more likely to take part in a wellness programme and benefit from it when it feels like part of everyday working life. Employers should build wellness into the daily routine of the workplace, so that employees can do their work well and stay healthy while doing it.
Frequently asked questions
Does BOTI offer an employee motivation and wellness short course?
Yes. BOTI runs Health and Wellness at Work Training as a one-day course and the Employee Motivation Course as a separate one-day course. Organisations can book them together for the same team, so that wellbeing and motivation are handled as one programme.
Can I do employee wellness training online?
Yes. BOTI delivers wellness training live online with a facilitator, in-house at your premises, or at its venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg.
Who should attend workplace wellness training?
Workplace wellness training suits HR staff and wellness committee members who plan wellness programmes, line managers who need to spot burnout and support their teams, and employees who want practical habits for managing their energy, stress and work-life balance.
What certificate do delegates receive after wellness training?
Delegates who complete the course receive a BOTI certificate of attendance. The course is a professional skills programme and does not carry credits.
To build a culture of wellness with your team, book BOTI’s Health and Wellness at Work Training. Training runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. Call BOTI on 011 882 8853 or email [email protected], or request a quote. This course is not accredited. It is delivered as a professional skills programme, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.