What Does Taking a Holistic Approach to Wellness for Employees Mean?
Holistic wellness goes beyond just physical health, addressing the intellectual, occupational, spiritual, mental/emotional, and social well-being of your employees.
Throughout this blog, you'll learn how addressing the various dimensions of wellness can transform an organization from the inside out. We outline a proven process for launching holistic corporate wellness programs that keep the momentum going to ensure long-lasting success.
But first, let’s define what we mean by “holistic” wellness.
What Is Holistic Wellness?
At its core, holistic health and wellness sees a person’s well-being through a wider lens that considers the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. It recognizes that people are multifaceted, and true wellness can only be achieved when all aspects of their being are in alignment.
Unlike conventional methods that singularly focus on treating physical symptoms, a holistic approach to wellness explores and addresses the underlying causes of discomfort or disease. By attending to the needs of the whole person, individuals can cultivate a profound sense of well-being that permeates every aspect of their lives.
In essence, holistic wellness embraces a 360-degree view of a person, providing a complete support system that enables them to overcome and thrive as they face life's various challenges.
6 Dimensions of Holistic Wellness for Employees
Today, fostering wellness for employees means more than just catering salads for lunch every once in a while. It's about considering what makes them feel healthy, happy, and fulfilled, and implementing an ongoing holistic wellness program that supports each of those aspects.
Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute (NWI), developed an interdependent model called the Six Dimensions of Wellness that creates a holistic picture of wellness. These dimensions set the foundation for holistic corporate wellness programs.
1. Intellectual Wellness
Stimulating holistic wellness activities that are intellectual contributes to employees' personal growth and professional development. Organizations can foster intellectual wellness by encouraging continuous learning, offering opportunities for upskilling and reskilling, and promoting creativity and innovation in the workplace. Providing access to educational resources, workshops, and seminars can empower employees to expand their knowledge and expertise.
2. Occupational Wellness
Creating a work environment that promotes job satisfaction and career advancement leads to occupational wellness. This dimension involves supporting employees in achieving work-life balance, setting meaningful career goals, and fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation. By offering flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and mentorship programs, organizations can enhance employees' occupational well-being.
3. Spiritual Wellness
Acknowledging and respecting employees’ spirituality positively influences well-being. This dimension helps create a workplace culture where employees feel the freedom to bring their whole selves to work: mind, body, and spirit. Providing opportunities for reflection, meditation, prayer, and other spiritual practices allows employees to cultivate a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection to something greater than themselves.
4. Social Wellness
Social wellness emphasizes building and maintaining meaningful relationships with others. Encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and open communication cultivates a supportive work environment where employees feel connected and valued. Organizing team-building activities, wellness events, and volunteer opportunities allows employees to strengthen their social connections and see themselves as part of a larger community.
5. Emotional/Mental Wellness
Supporting employees in managing stress, building resilience, and maintaining positive mental health at work is crucial for emotional wellness. This dimension involves creating an environment that promotes honest communication, empathy, and psychological safety. Offering access to resources like counseling services, stress management workshops, guided mindfulness exercises, and well-being days enables employees to address challenges and build emotional resilience.
6. Physical Wellness
Physical wellness is the dimension most people think of when health and wellness come to mind. This dimension promotes regular exercise, healthy eating habits, sufficient rest, and preventive healthcare practices. Organizations can support employees in maintaining their physical health and wellness by providing resources such as gym memberships, wellness workshops, yoga classes, and nutritious snacks.
Overall, holistic wellness encompasses a balance of these different elements, with each contributing to a fulfilling and meaningful life. By addressing employee well-being holistically, employers can create an engaged, productive, and loyal workforce.
Building Better Workplaces: A Proven Process for Holistic Corporate Wellness Programs
Holistic corporate wellness programs take a comprehensive approach to employee well-being, providing a diverse range of resources that support the various dimensions of wellness. Some holistic wellness programs even address more niche areas, such as financial wellness.
A holistic corporate wellness program fundamentally changes the dynamics of an organization. It creates a workforce that’s more productive, loyal, happy, healthy, and attractive to new talent. But these programs aren’t turnkey; they require strategy. You can’t just adopt the latest corporate wellness trend and expect it to solve all your organization's health and productivity challenges.
Corporate wellness isn’t a trend; it's a fundamental necessity in today's business world.
To be most effective, holistic corporate wellness programs must be developed, implemented, and managed by a corporate wellness consultant. This strategic process involves understanding the diverse needs of your workforce and creating a multifaceted plan of action that promotes employee well-being.
At ProMotion Corporate Wellness, we follow our proven High Performance Wellness Program Framework™ to develop holistic corporate wellness programs that transform organizations from the inside out.
STEP 1: ALIGN
First, we focus on aligning your company's core values and business needs. This alignment turns your wellness program into a strategic business asset that gains leadership buy-in, making the return on investment (ROI) straightforward to demonstrate and achieve.
STEP 2: EMPLOYEE VALUES & CULTURE ASSESSMENT
The success of any wellness program hinges on employee participation. Our proprietary two-part process gauges employee interests, tendencies, and values. This essential step moves us beyond guesswork, ensuring your program resonates with your team and secures their engagement.
STEP 3: CREATE A CUSTOM-BRANDED PROGRAM
After compiling this key information, we craft a custom-branded wellness program that reflects the unique culture and needs of your organization. From fun work wellness challenges to personal coaching and nutrition education, the program is designed to inspire and engage.
STEP 4: CREATE A BRANDED INCENTIVE
The creation of a custom-branded incentive further personalizes the experience, offering rewards that truly matter to your employees. This approach not only motivates participation but also amplifies the impact of your wellness program, setting the stage for its success.
STEP 5: LAUNCH & DELIVER
With all of these pieces in place, we launch your custom corporate wellness program. During this stage, we seamlessly implement the program, ensuring a successful launch. From registration and liability to onboarding and operational processes, we cover all of the bases.
STEP 6: MAINTAIN MOMENTUM & MEASURE SUCCESS
…but the launch is just the beginning. To sustain the program’s impact and continue proving its value, we consistently monitor and measure its performance. We focus on maintaining momentum in its early stages, adapting to business shifts, and meeting with your team to ensure the program continues to deliver a desirable ROI.
As a holistic wellness company dedicated to promoting employee wellness at work, we believe corporate wellness programs are the future—and our holistic wellness services get you ready.
Book a strategy session today to learn more about how we can transform your business success with a holistic corporate wellness program that’s designed to produce measurable results.
