The winter months can be stressful for everyone, from holidays to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and end-of-year deadlines. At the start of the new year, employers can help workers get off on the right foot with winter wellness initiatives.
Winter wellness encompasses physical, mental and emotional health — all of which affect one’s ability to show up and perform well. Here are ways winter impacts your team and how you can promote wellness in the workplace.
How Winter Impacts Employee Health
Employers expect employees to call out occasionally throughout the year. However, 19% of workers with fair to poor mental health tend to miss 12 unplanned days of work each, costing businesses $47.6 billion in lost productivity each year. In comparison, those with better mental health only miss 2.5 days.
Workplace absenteeism has dire effects on companies, impacting their operations, profitability and morale. During winter, employers and workers must grapple with higher rates of low mood, fatigue and more infectious illnesses.
There are many health-related reasons employees call out sick in the winter, including the following:
- Extended work hours and burnout
- Frequent business trips and less time spent with family and friendsMore work without a pay increase
- Decreased motivation and commitment, causing them not to want to go into the office
- Feeling undervalued for their contributions
- Greater depression during the cold season
Employees face other stressors at home, causing them to feel unhealthy and less engaged. For instance, some may deal with chronic illness, be someone’s caregiver and have trouble covering the costs of necessities and child care. These situations are significant and can make workers feel sick, driving their focus away from their job responsibilities.
6 Winter Wellness Initiative for Employees
Companies wanting to boost their profit margins and operate more efficiently will discover wellness initiatives most beneficial for hard-working employees. Focusing on workers’ health and well-being demonstrates compassion, care and appreciation for all they do. Here are six ways to keep your employees motivated, happy and healthy this winter.
1. Sunlight Breaks
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t bundle up and get some fresh air. Encourage your employees to take a walk outdoors during their breaks. Natural sunlight is particularly beneficial for those who struggle with SAD.
Managers can even schedule a half hour in the day and invite the team to walk together. This will help build community among co-workers and leave them feeling refreshed and energized when they return to their desks.
In the office, employers can mimic the photosynthetically active radiation in natural sunlight with full-spectrum LED bulbs — an energy-efficient alternative to incandescent lighting. These LEDs are known for inducing positivity and lower depression due to their cool blue light spectrum.
2. Workplace Fitness Classes
Offering fitness classes at the office is an excellent strategy for companies to ensure a healthier workforce. Exercise produces endorphins — feel-good neurotransmitters — for better mood. Naturally, absenteeism is much lower when employees are in great shape and of sound mind.
Worksite fitness makes physical activity much more accessible for employees before they clock in, during breaks and when they clock out. Some ideas for fitness classes at work include yoga, aerobics, circuit training and weight-lifting.
What better way to launch the new year than focusing on whole-body health? Co-workers can even show one another support and accountability.
3. Coffee Chats
Socialization is vital to one’s health and boosts teamwork. For example, organized coffee chats are great for breaking up the day and allowing co-workers to interact about personal and professional matters. As a result, you can foster a more cohesive, collaborative team environment where everyone feels comfortable and trusting of each other.
These casual breaks are also ideal winter wellness initiatives for remote teams. Schedule a half-hour or hour weekly when most workers can step away from their projects. Then, use this time for them to share more about themselves.
Having someone facilitate these conversations in a round-robin format may be worthwhile in a virtual meeting. However, those in the office might simply pop in and out of the conference room for a hot coffee and conversation.
4. Wellness Stipend
Wellness stipends allow a certain amount of spending toward monthly nutrition, fitness or mental health services. Nearly 64% of employees want their workplace to embrace emotions — this is a great way for companies to honor their employees’ mental well-being and happiness.
For instance, companies may give employees a $150 monthly stipend for gym memberships, nutrition appointments, massages or counseling sessions. Employees can then submit their receipts to have their expenses reimbursed.
Employers may also issue the stipend through their regular payroll process, which can better protect employees’ privacy for any mental health services they receive. This workplace perk will encourage teams to take on wellness initiatives independently and adopt new healthy habits.
5. Healthy Potluck Dinners
Host occasional potluck dinners with teams, encouraging everyone to bring healthy dishes. Like coffee chats and team-oriented sunlight breaks, potlucks are opportune for conversing in a relaxed setting.
Make company potlucks even more fun by choosing a cuisine or theme each time — for example, one potluck might be all vegetarian dishes. Another might be a healthier take on everyone’s favorite Mexican flavors.
Depending on your team size, you may even invite spouses or children to attend. Meeting family members gives employers insight into their workers’ home lives, fosters empathy and creates a sense of family at work.
6. Guided Meditations
Research shows a correlation between mindfulness activities and an increase in job performance. Employers who integrate meditation into their wellness initiatives help workers relieve stress and center themselves. As a result, they become more innovative and solution-oriented in their work. Many feel more engaged with greater job satisfaction, too.
Hold guided meditation sessions first thing in the morning or during the day. These meditations don’t have to be lengthy — 15 to 20 minutes is just enough time — and can even transpire with virtual teams.
Mindfulness practices are excellent for better mood, reducing anxiety and aiding sleep. It also enhances one’s attention and cultivates kindness.
Health and Happy Employees Are Good for Business
Healthy employees will always rise to the occasion. To enhance productivity and job satisfaction at work, encourage employees to take control of their well-being and become part of their health journeys. Ultimately, you’ll reap the rewards of their motivation and engagement.
Eleanor is editor of Designerly Magazine. Eleanor was the creative director and occasional blog writer at a prominent digital marketing agency before becoming her own boss in 2018. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.
