Ping pong tables, kombucha on tap, unlimited vacation days – the tech industry is known for splashy workplace perks. But does more free food and flex time make employees healthier and happier?
That’s the key question the panel “Wellness Beyond Benefits” will explore at TechHR 2023. There’s a growing sense that true wellness requires more than bean bag chairs and fitness trackers. It’s time to take a deeper, more holistic view.
The Mind-Body Connection
True well-being isn’t just physical health. It’s mental, emotional, even spiritual health. And those don’t exist in isolation – they’re deeply intertwined. Stress at work affects our whole selves.
So how do companies tune into the mind-body connection? How do they cultivate cultures where people feel empowered to protect their mental bandwidth and recharge their souls?
Leaders play a significant role. They set the tone and model healthy norms like being open about taking time offline or prioritising family. Policies only go so far – people follow culture.
It’s also about emotional intelligence and human connection. Does leadership see employees as whole people or just workers? Do people feel genuinely cared for? Trust and vulnerability are key here.
Leaders who listen with empathy and appreciate employees’ humanity can foster deeper loyalty and engagement. It’s about relationships, not just transactions.
Redefining Productivity
To prioritize wellness, companies need flexible definitions of productivity. Judging people by rigid hourly inputs breeds burnout.
Output should matter more – are people accomplishing great work sustainably? Do they have space to rest and refuel? We need to value balance over hustle.
For parents, caregivers and others with demands outside work, flexibility is crucial. Can people step away mid-day for family obligations and then resume work later? Results, not face time, should determine advancement.
Of course creativity can’t be scheduled. So leaders must give people free space for meandering minds to make unexpected connections. That’s where magic happens.
Imposing rigid schedules focused on short-term results stifles innovation. The most groundbreaking ideas require time and space to percolate.
The Employee Experience
At the end of the day, it’s about humanizing the workplace. Designing an employee experience that makes people feel supported, energized and heard. An experience rooted in trust, empathy and care.
That requires tuning into the nuances of people’s needs. What policies and spaces encourage their best selves? What drags them down? No single perk can be one-size-fits-all.
Regular pulse surveys, open office hours, and anonymous feedback channels – these can help leaders tune into employees’ real concerns. It’s an ongoing conversation, not a one-off program.
This more holistic vision of wellness will require imagination, intuition and compassion from leaders. But the upside is huge – empowered, energized people who feel loyal to companies that value their humanity. That’s a powerful competitive edge.
Wellness goes beyond benefits. It’s a culture that sees the whole person. Mind, body and spirit. The companies that embrace this philosophy will unleash innovation, creativity and growth.
More importantly, they’ll unlock human potential in all its richness. That’s the future of work I’m eager to explore at TechHR 2023. A future where wellness isn’t a perk but a core value woven into every human interaction.
Wellness Beyond Benefits: Empowering An Organizational Culture That Prioritizes Health
When people feel taken care of both inside and outside the office, they feel empowered to do their best work. Such a culture drives innovation & growth. Organizations can build an all-encompassing culture of wellbeing, creativity and connection by tuning into people’s psyche to design comprehensive and inclusive wellness benefits that support their complete selves.
