Employee wellness coaching helps companies improve health and productivity. A qualified professional who is not a medical doctor, an employee wellness coach works with employees to educate and guide them to better living through various techniques from keeping a journal to mindfulness training.
More and more companies are recognizing the impact that workplace stress can have on the physical and emotional health of their team members. Rather than looking solely at insurance premiums and the bottom line, employers are focusing on the wellbeing of their employees because it makes good business sense: happy, healthy, engaged employees are more productive and perform better.
The concept of employee wellness coaching has come a long way in recent years, and more and more companies are taking advantage of this new trend. The top employee wellness coaching companies provide a variety of programs and tools to help employees make healthy lifestyle changes that can lead to a better work-life balance. Some of these programs focus on weight loss, eating habits, exercise, and other physical health issues. Others focus on mental and emotional wellness, such as reducing stress levels and improving sleep quality.
In addition to offering a variety of programs and services, some employee wellness coaching companies also offer software to help manage the program. These platforms are designed to make it easier for both the wellness coach and the employee to track progress, engage with one another, and monitor overall wellbeing. One example is Quenza, a fitness and wellness platform that offers a variety of features for both the wellness coach and client. It allows coaches to easily create and customize coaching journeys using assessments, lessons, quizzes, videos, and other media. It also enables health and wellness coaches to track results in real time with a full suite of coaching metrics.
Other wellness coaching services include eHealth Solutions, which provides a customizable online platform and mobile app to assist with employee health risk assessment, behavioral change, and medical compliance. The company also offers a wide range of other wellness programs, such as health promotion activities, behavioral interventions, and worksite clinical care.
For many working adults, financial stress is a significant barrier to their well-being. Employees consumed with money woes are apt to miss more work and may not be as productive as those who are free of this burden. Some employee wellness coaching companies address this issue by providing employee finance counseling.
Finally, an important aspect of employee wellness coaching is recognizing and rewarding employees when they achieve positive outcomes. Some programs may include trips, local outings, in-office parties, or a simple shout out in the monthly newsletter. IT giant Cisco, for example, encourages its teams to celebrate their successes with a “fun fund” earmarked specifically for celebrating achievements, including reaching goals, successful projects, and other milestones.
Lastly, employee wellness coaching often includes encouragement to volunteer. By fostering an environment of giving back, employees can boost their emotional and social health while enjoying the satisfaction that comes with making a difference in the lives of those around them.
