Tag Archive for: employee wellness

Embracing and Navigating Workplace Wellness Trends in 2024

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As we approach 2024, it is important for companies to note how the landscape of workplace wellness is evolving and assess where their employees are in relation to these shifts. Human resources, people operations, and employee benefits professionals are encouraged to monitor the yearly trends in order to deliver corporate wellness programming that is relevant to the moment, meets employees’ diverse and present needs, and boosts engagement across teams.

This blog explores some key corporate wellness trends to watch in 2024 and offers ideas to help you transform your workplace and help your employees thrive in the coming year.

 

Embracing Occupational Wellness
Enter ‘Quiet Thriving’

In 2024, a focus on occupational wellness, one of the 8 dimensions of wellbeing, is set to take center stage, emphasizing quiet thriving, employee resilience, and adaptability in the workplace. This trend promotes an environment that nurtures overall employee wellbeing and success.

Quiet Thriving is a term coined by psychotherapist Lesley Alderman. As she describes in her recent Washington Post piece, this concept is all about employees making mental shifts and taking actions that help them feel empowered and engaged at work. This might include setting intentions, taking breaks for fun or wellness-boosting activities, or joining an interest group either in or out of the workplace.

Employers also have a role to play here – thriving is not just an individual pursuit. Employers should seek to adopt new policies and procedures, adapt existing ones, and embrace overall organizational changes that support their efforts to thrive and be resilient in the face of workplace stress.

 

Sustained Spotlight on Mental Wellbeing
Psychological Safety and Belonging Remain Key Areas of Focus

According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America Survey survey, 92% of workers reported that it’s important to them to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological wellbeing. 77% of workers reported feeling satisfied to some degree with the mental health and wellbeing support they receive from their employers. At the same time, 55% of employers felt their employer thought their workplace was more mentally healthy than it truly was. This indicates that there is room for improvement in the coming year.

While traditional mental health benefits like employee assistance programs, therapy, and flexible work arrangements should always come first, these measures can be supplemented with holistic wellness offerings like meditation and breathwork sessions, movement classes, and even massage, all of which can positively impact mental wellbeing by reducing stress.

 

Sustainability in Employee Wellbeing
Explore the Intersection of Environmental Stewardship, Sustainable Programming and Individual Wellbeing

Sustainability has emerged as a pivotal element in crafting holistic and enduring corporate wellness programs. By integrating sustainability into employee wellness initiatives, organizations nurture a culture of wellbeing that is not only supportive but also enduring. This approach which, could include everything from environmental wellness webinars to an overall emphasis on steady participation in ongoing weekly holistic wellness classes and webinars to improving office ergonomics aligns with the ethos of creating workplaces where individuals can flourish while contributing to a sustainable future for their organization, and for the world.

 

Financial Education Programs
Encourage a Holistic Approach to Financial Wellbeing

Organizations are recognizing the interconnectedness of financial health with overall employee wellbeing. In 2024, workplaces will increasingly offer financial wellness and education programs to empower employees with the knowledge and tools for better financial wellbeing. With the rising cost of living, uneven wage growth, and the increasing number of individuals with record credit card and student loan debt to manage, these services can provide needed stress reduction around money matters and help employees to take inspired action around their finances.

 

Embracing Technological Solutions
Empower Employees by Incorporating Technology for Enhanced Wellbeing

This trend caters to the modern workforce’s demand for flexibility and customized, on-demand content, and encompasses a range of tech-based solutions, from health apps to virtual wellbeing platforms, shaping the future of workplace wellness Enter the era of on-demand wellness platforms, empowering employees to access wellbeing resources and content conveniently. This trend caters to the modern workforce’s demand for flexibility and customized, on-demand wellness solutions. Companies will continue to actively explore technological solutions to enhance employee wellbeing. This broader trend encompasses a range of tech-based solutions, from health apps to virtual wellbeing platforms, shaping the future of workplace wellness.


By incorporating these trends into your organizational strategy, you pave the way for a workplace that prioritizes the wellbeing and success of every individual.

 

Dive Deeper into Workplace Wellbeing: Planning for 2024

When it comes to executing a successful workplace wellness program, consistency is key. At Urban Balance, we advocate for a comprehensive approach to holistic wellbeing at work and recommend that companies offer a well-rounded blend of holistic services and benefits, choosing those that are most compatible with their unique employees’ needs and interests. Whether it’s ongoing yoga or movement classes, monthly on-site chair massage sessions, or company-wide employee membership to an on-demand wellness class platform, your journey to a thriving employee population begins here. When your employees thrive, so does your organization.

 

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Urban Balance is the premier provider of comprehensive on-site corporate wellness services including massage in the Portland, Oregon metro area, and offers virtual workplace wellness programming worldwide. We deliver livestream and on-demand classes, webinars, and special events to the workplace environment for happier employees and a healthier bottom line.

Browse our virtual wellness services catalog with offerings including yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Zumba, HIIT, Barre Sculpt, meditation, nutrition, learning opportunities, and more.

 

New in 2024: Discover the benefits of Urban Balance TV, a workplace wellbeing solution with 450+ holistic wellness classes designed to help employees achieve optimal balance in all areas of life. Membership options are available for companies and individuals.

5 Ways to Build Physical Activity into Your Hybrid Workplace Culture

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As employees settle into hybrid work-life, employers must consider how to support them in moving throughout the day. One of the 8 dimensions of wellbeing, physical wellness is not only about keeping the body in shape. We also know it plays a key role in employee mental health helping to ward off depression and anxiety, and generally supporting an elevated mood state.

Though hybrid work has its benefits, one of the negative impacts for many workers is that they move less throughout the day. In fact, a recent study revealed that 60% of employees have reduced their mobility by more than half since they began working remotely – all the more reason to build this essential into workplace culture and make it easy for employees to participate no matter where they’re working from.

Here are a few ways to encourage employees to move more in today’s hybrid workplace:

  1. Re-design the office to be more active – After the pandemic years of working remotely, many employees have made the personal commitment to incorporate more movement into their lives, whether that looks like some strength training, a Zoom fitness class, or a daily walk. As we know, though, the workday is often busy, especially on employees limited in-office days, and sometimes it can be challenging to follow through on these intentions. Some employees may be tired of being stuck at their desk, and other will have discovered they have more time for exercise than they thought and want to keep that routine going. Offer upgrades like standing desks, schedule walking meetings, and encourage stretch breaks whenever possible.
  2. Incentivize active commuting – encourage employees to walk or ride their commute (or part of it). This is even more attainable if employees commute to the office has diminished to only a couple of days each week. Create a safe, indoor space where employees can store bikes and other accessories. Consider adding a shower facility to remove the barrier of feeling sweaty during the workday. Companies can even promote “fake commuting” for those working remotely, which might look like a walk or other activity before and/or after work. This can be an effective way to separate work and home life, and a is wonderful way to fit in physical activity. Incentivize participation by creating a challenge connected to any of these options!
  3. Make announcements active – We know that even a few minutes of movement per day can make a substantial difference. Why not build a little activity into your next meeting? During the announcements portion, have an appointed staff member demonstrate movements or stretches like walking in place, side stretch, shoulder rolls, and neck rolls. These types of movements go a long way to freshening up our energy and may even help some employees boost their ability to listen. Better yet, schedule a professional movement teacher to join your meeting, either virtually or on-site, to take this responsibility off your team’s plate!
  4. Encourage out-of-office breaks – Encourage employees to take active breaks where they leave the office to take a walk and get fresh air, whether working remotely or on-site. They could even walk to lunch instead of drive. Employees will return feeling renewed and better able to focus on the task at hand.
  5. Make movement a formal part of your corporate wellness plan – Offer and promote movement classes as a part of your workplace wellness program. Employees working on-site can join from a communal space, while remote workers can connect from home.

Here are a few ideas that can work both virtually and on-site:

  • Schedule a weekly yoga class (or 2-3 per week to encourage consistency!)
  • Make movement fun – think dance-centric workouts like Zumba® or The Ellové Technique™
  • Make it vigorous and sweaty – strength & conditioning, HIIT, SPRK™, barre sculpt, or Pilates are all great go-to’s.
  • Slow it down – for employees who would benefit from a more easeful approach to movement, Tai Chi and Qigong practices are made up of gentle, meditative movements that support stress reduction.

With any movement classes your company might implement:

The most impactful movement classes are inclusive of different bodies and create opportunities for employees to participate in different ways. In a yoga class for example, remind participants they can move close to a wall to support their balance, practice seated or standing, rest, or even stop and simply watch the class at any time. Present options in such a way that all are equal instead of certain options feeling “less than.” (i.e. – if you can’t do this, then do it this easier way).

Why this matters:

Throughout our lives, we have all received implicit and/or explicit messaging about our bodies and what they are capable of. This means within any employee group, there are those who may feel intimidated when it comes to movement, or who do not feel confident or safe being in their body.

So, be sure to seek out corporate wellness instructors who are experienced in supporting people with a wide range of physical abilities and lead practices that are inclusive of everyone in the room. Remember – in the end, employees’ presence is the most important thing!

 

Urban Balance is the premier provider of comprehensive on-site corporate wellness services including massage in the Portland, Oregon metro area and offers virtual workplace wellness programming worldwide. We deliver livestream and on-demand classes, webinars, and extraordinary events to the workplace environment for happier employees and a healthier bottom line.

 

Browse our virtual wellness services catalog with offerings including yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Zumba, HIIT, Barre Sculpt, meditation, nutrition, learning opportunities, and more.

Discover the benefits of the Urban Balance on-demand video library, a workplace wellbeing solution with over 350+ holistic wellness classes. Includes membership options for companies and individuals.

 

 

6 Ways to Improve Sleep Hygiene for Quality Rest

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Sleep plays a significant role in both physical and mental health, but research makes it clear that Americans struggle to get quality sleep. In fact, according to the CDC, one third of US adults report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep.

Also according to the CDC, getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis or less than the recommended amount of sleep is linked with a wide range of common health conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression.

It is widely documented that stress, the chronic type that is highly prevalent in the workplace, is one of the leading sleep disruptors.

Feeling sleepy in the office while sitting in front of the computer is one thing, but in industries and workplace settings including warehouses, construction sites, airports, and manufacturing, physical safety is of the utmost importance. In these settings, the National Safety Council (NSC) points out that workplace fatigue can contribute to bottom-line issues like worker absenteeism, poor performance at work, occupational injuries, and accidents, and even offers a calculator for organizations to estimate the cost of sleep deficiency on their operations.

So, what measures can companies take to help stressed employees improve their sleep habits (often referred to as sleep hygiene)? Or perhaps as you are reading this, you have realized that you are ready to make some changes to your own sleep habits?

Here are a few tips to share or apply yourself:

1. Reduce stress – According to medical professionals, high levels of stress hormones in the body can impact how long it takes to fall asleep or may prevent sleeping through the night. Sleep loss itself can also trigger the stress response, only prolonging the cycle. So, it stands to reason we can benefit from bringing our stress level down.

One place to start is being sure to engage in physical activity each day, even if it’s just a short walk, yoga practice, or higher intensity exercise in the form of HIIT routines you can do at home. Exercise increases endorphins (feel-good hormones) while reducing stress hormones, which together help support relaxation.

There are countless stress reduction tools out there. It is likely your employer even offers some through a corporate wellness program provider. If you haven’t recently, be sure to review your company’s employee wellness benefits package to see what may already be available.

If you need some inspiration, Urban Balance’s on-demand class library is a great holistic wellness resource both for companies and individuals seeking guidance with their routine.

2. Develop a consistent sleep schedule – As the proverb “early to bed, early to rise” has long encouraged us, it is beneficial to go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning. Any early riser would agree that having a fixed wakeup time builds the body’s desire for sleep at the end of the day, making it easier to rest and begin the next day’s cycle.

3. Make sure your bedroom is dark and cool – Invest in a set of blackout curtains or try sleeping with an eye mask to support your body’s internal clock. The absence of light signals the brain that it’s time to sleep. Adjust the room temperature – conventional wisdom suggests between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal.

4. Leave ample time to unwind at the end of the day – Turn off screens by at least 30 minutes before bed, do a mediation or some restorative yoga before bed, or settle in with a good book to help your brain unwind.

5. Aim for balanced nutrition – Eat a balanced diet packed with lots of fruits and vegetables, which provides the recommended daily intake of vitamins and nutrients. Eat dinner a few hours before going to bed, as digestion can interfere with sleep. Be sure to watch your caffeine intake throughout the day, as well as alcohol intake – both are stimulants and can interfere with your ability to fall asleep or stay asleep.

6. Make holistic wellness practices a part of your life – There are many holistic wellness practices that promote quality sleep, including chair massage, yoga (especially yin and restorative styles, as well as yoga nidra), meditation, Tai Chi and other styles of movement. These practices promote overall stress reduction, which sets the stage for better quality sleep.

 

If getting a good night’s sleep is a struggle and you’re curious about whether holistic wellness practices like yoga, meditation, and other healing modalities might help you or your employees, don’t hesitate to use us as a resource!

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Urban Balance is the premier provider of comprehensive on-site corporate wellness services including massage in the Portland, Oregon metro area and offers virtual workplace wellness programming worldwide. We deliver livestream and on-demand classes, webinars, and special events to the workplace environment for happier employees and a healthier bottom line.

Browse our catalog of virtual wellness services with offerings including yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Zumba, HIIT, Barre Sculpt, meditation, nutrition, learning opportunities, and more.

Discover the benefits of the Urban Balance on-demand video library, a workplace wellbeing solution with over 350+ holistic wellness classes. Includes membership options for companies and individuals.