Chris Holman talks with the CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works! CAMW!, Carrie Rosingana. Carrie shares why businesses should care about creating a culture of wellness, how a culture of wellness affects an organization, and some strategies that businesses can use to foster a corporate culture of wellness.

Capital Area Michigan Works! is a network of resources for employers and career seekers. They partner with businesses to develop recruiting and retention strategies, as well as with job seekers to enhance education and career opportunities.

Watch the full interview with Carrie now!

Transcript

QUESTION: Why should businesses care about creating a culture of wellness?
ANSWER: According to a 2018 Gallup poll, two-thirds of employees experience burnout. These employees are more likely to take PTO, look for a new job or show reduced confidence and engagement at work. Employers are motivated to have a healthy, profitable and effective company that meets the needs of its customers, which can sometimes reduce employees to numbers in the expense category instead of individual people. Investment in employees remains one of the biggest opportunities for growth.

QUESTION: How does a culture of wellness affect an organization as a whole?
ANSWER: Employees’ well-being, emotional health and physical health directly affect their productivity. Employees produce better work when life balance is aligned. So, when businesses intentionally build balance and wellness into their culture, better work will be produced and turnover rates will be lower. A culture of wellness improves work performance, retention and morale. When employees see their job as the stable foundation of their life, they’re able to plan, strategize and work towards their long term financial and personal goals. Investing in your employees also encourages them to stay and prevents losing highly qualified employees that you’ve already trained and invested time, money and other resources in.

QUESTION: What does a corporate culture of wellness look like?
ANSWER: A wellness culture isn’t something that can just trickle down through an organization. It must be an intentional, 360-view of the employees’ needs in and out of the workplace. Employers can leverage Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), CAMW! Business Resource Network, mental health programs, or incentives to quit smoking or to encourage going to the gym. An important part of establishing wellness is fostering trust and community between employees. That trust can be built through offering benefits, information and programs that positively impact the employees’ day-to-day needs. This model helps employees to feel connected to their company, and in turn increases their productivity and loyalty.

QUESTION: What are some strategies that businesses can use to foster a corporate culture of wellness?
ANSWER: In today’s world, smartphones are common, if not the norm, and often the only means of communication for employees. By fostering a technologically connected environment, employers can quickly communicate closures, operation changes and important on-boarding information, as well as how to access wellness programs. Actively seeking input from employees — and listening honestly to their feedback — increases employees’ sense of involvement with the company, in addition to their loyalty and pride in the business. Capital Area Michigan Works! also offers the Business Resource Network, or the BRN. The BRN offers one-on-one coaching to employees to help them resolve and work on issues in their personal and professional lives that affect their productivity. The BRN also helps to increase usage of existing EAPs that are designed to further promote wellness.