Wellbeing Programs for Employees: A Blueprint for UK Employers

The lines between our personal and professional lives are becoming increasingly blurred.

Mental, physical and financial health have been pushed into the spotlight as important topics organisations need to address. 

The most forward-thinking UK companies are answering this call by establishing comprehensive wellbeing programs for their employees that boost satisfaction but also drive productivity. 

These employee wellness programs have evolved significantly to encompass everything from stress management and fitness challenges to smoking cessation courses and financial counselling & education. 

Let’s get familiar with the various strategies and components that make up an effective workplace wellbeing programme in the UK and how this can work in tandem with your company’s future goals. 

What is a health and wellbeing programme?

Often referred to as a corporate wellbeing program you're designing, an employee wellbeing program refers to a group of initiatives designed to foster healthier lifestyle choices among employees, and, by extension, their families. These activities sit within a company’s wider employee benefits strategy and should tie into your organisation's greater goals. 

As we alluded to earlier, these programs can cover a wide range of areas, from physical fitness and emotional wellbeing to financial, social, and preventative health. In fact, let’s explore how some of these components play into the wider scope of a robust employee wellness program for the UK market.

What should you include in a wellbeing programme? 

We often associate wellness with doing a few more bench presses at the gym or drinking green juice. But in reality, wellbeing is far more complex than this. 

True wellbeing transcends the occasional gym session or health smoothie. It’s about creating a holistic environment where employees can thrive across multiple dimensions. Therefore, your employee health & wellness program should address:

Physical wellness - Encouraging regular exercise, balanced diets, and sufficient rest - all the things that go into maintaining a healthy body.

Mental health - Providing tools and support to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression while bolstering resilience.

Financial wellbeing - Educating employees to manage finances effectively to experience less stress.

Social - Helping employees to cultivate strong interpersonal relationships and a sense of belonging within your workplace.

Occupational - Supporting employees in mapping out their career aspirations and growth trajectory.

Environmental - Promoting sustainable practices that, in turn, have an impact on peace of mind and a healthy physical workspace.

How do you implement a wellbeing strategy in the workplace?

Setting up a comprehensive wellbeing & benefits strategy might sound like a daunting task. But as long as you take a structured approach, it’s something any company, no matter their size can achieve.

Remember, things don’t have to be perfect from day one - in fact, one of the most practical ways of getting started on crafting a corporate wellbeing program is to: 

Start small 

If this is the first workplace wellbeing program, remember to start small. To kick things off, simply start the conversation with other senior leaders. Think together about how your wellbeing initiatives can align with the long term goals of your company. Set a few KPIs that will allow you track success. 

Tie it back to culture

Any wellbeing program for your employees becomes an intrinsic part of that company’s strategy. So, it’s important to reflect on how these new initiatives might impact your culture. Have there been challenges, so far, your new program could help address? What are your current levels of engagement, health and happiness in your workplace? What’s important to your people - what do they value most?

Gather some data  

Hunches will only get you so far. To make informed choices about the areas you need to address first with your strategy, you’ll need some fresh insights. You can gather this kind of information by conducting a staff survey, doing a stress audit or looking into some health and safety stats. HR data and exit interviews might also contain some important indicators. 

Set some goals 

Once you have some insights, you’ll hopefully have a good indication of what areas of employee health & wellbeing are in most need of attention. For instance, if you don’t already have a fitness centre, you might want to set this up. Or, if there have been lots of absences due to stress and illness, you might want to look into an employee assistance program.

Execute your strategy

Now that you have your data and your goals, you have everything you need to deliver your strategy. Think about how you’ll communicate your corporate wellbeing program and what kind of resources and time commitment will be involved. Will you need to train staff? What budget will you need to secure to make your plans a reality? Can you make use of technology, and if so how can you leverage this to support your activities? 

Now, let’s take a look at what kind of initiatives you could decide to implement as an organisation.

12 workplace wellbeing strategies UK companies can implement

As we already started exploring, workplace wellbeing is a broad landscape. There are lots of different avenues you could go down to foster better employee engagement. 

We’ve listed a few ideas here, but this list is far from exhausting, so it’s important to do your own research into the best activities and wellbeing programs for employees in the UK. 

Wellbeing check-ins

Establishing a routine of regular check-ins with staff can be a great way to keep tabs on how employees are coping - both on an individual and collective level. You can do this quarterly by gathering some general feedback via a survey or on a more personal level with employees one-to-one.

Flexible working

What was an explosive trend during the pandemic has now settled into a more balanced working arrangement both employers and employees are agreeing to and reaping benefits from. Still the concept of flexible working continues to evolve here in the UK, and that makes it a compelling and impactful part of any employee wellness program. 

Financial coaching/planning

Across the UK, people have been feeling the squeeze of the cost of living. Given this, financial stress has never been higher. By developing a robust financial wellness program that ties into your existing benefits & rewards strategy, you can help counteract this. This could involve providing employees with a coaching or counselling service or hosting education sessions on topics like workplace pensions.

Sleep courses

We spend one third of our lives resting and recharging in bed. So crucial is getting a good night’s sleep, in fact, that it can have a direct impact on how well and safely we can perform our duties at work. A sleep management course or program can help employees develop better sleep habits while addressing issues such as stress and insomnia, which take away from sleep, something that can be a particular challenge for workers operating in high-stress sectors - such as healthcare and emergency services.  

Onsite fitness 

Establishing space and time for fitness is a more tangible way you can promote greater employee health & wellbeing within your workspace. If there's a budget to invest in an onsite fitness centre, then this is a no-brainer. However, you don’t have to set up a state-of the art facility to help your workforce achieve its fitness goals. Dedicating a simple space where you can run regular yoga classes and workshops can offer just as many positives. 

Volunteering 

Encouraging employees to engage in volunteering activities can significantly boost morale and provide a sense of purpose. By offering paid time off for volunteering, companies can foster a culture of giving back, which not only enhances the company’s image but also improves employee satisfaction and broadens their skills through diverse experiences.

Activity clubs

Creating activity clubs within the company, such as cycling clubs, book clubs, or gardening groups, encourages social interactions among employees outside of their professional roles. These clubs can be a fun escape and a fantastic component of any wellbeing program for employees, opening up doors for workers to pursue hobbies and interests and achieve work life balance.

Mental health days 

Recognising the importance of mental health in the workplace, more businesses are now offering mental health days. These are paid days off used specifically for mental rejuvenation, separate from sick leaves or vacation days. This initiative shows a company’s commitment to the overall wellbeing of its employees, potentially reducing burnout and improving productivity.

Meditation courses 

Implementing meditation courses can help reduce workplace stress and enhance employee focus and clarity. Meditation has been shown to lower levels of stress and lead to better decision-making processes. Offering regular, guided meditation sessions or subsidising apps for mindfulness can be a simple yet effective wellbeing strategy.

Team building activities

Team building activities are essential for fostering a sense of unity and cooperation among employees. Whether it's outdoor sports events, puzzle-solving games, or creative workshops, these activities can break the monotony of daily routines and help build a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Nutrition classes 

Providing nutrition classes or workshops can empower employees to make healthier food choices, which is crucial for long-term health and energy levels. These can range from sessions with a nutritionist to cooking demonstrations that teach quick and healthy meal preparation, supporting employees in maintaining a balanced diet.

Smoking cessation 

Offering support for smoking cessation is a significant step towards promoting employee health. This can include providing resources for quitting, access to counselling, and even incentives for those who successfully quit. By supporting employees in overcoming this challenge, businesses can contribute to their long-term health and reduce related health costs.

Prioritising health and wellbeing: the path forward

We’ve delved into the world of wellbeing strategies, and looked at what an employee wellness program is, what it should include and how to execute it. We also looked at some initial ideas of activities and programmes your organisation can set up to achieve various health & wellbeing goals. 

Overtime, your wellness programs will evolve. Keep investing the right time and energy into these endeavours and you’ll start to see the real impact reflected on your business from stronger performance to increased satisfaction and morale among staff members.