5 Virtual Wellness Program ideas to engage your remote employees

“Success in a hybrid work environment requires employers to move beyond viewing remote or hybrid environments as a temporary or short-term strategy and to treat it as an opportunity.” -George Penn, VP at Gartner In 2021, more people than ever are working from home. For many people, this lifestyle change seems like the perfect solution to striking a good work/life balance. In a survey by Paychex it was found that 42% of remote employees said their work environment positively impacted their fitness level. Due to this sudden shift in environment, fostering the employees mental and physical well being is the need of the hour. Employee wellness programs are initiatives that encourage staff to adopt healthy habits. The purpose of these programs is to decrease absence and liability and increase worker health and happiness. Virtual employee wellness program ideas are creative tips to improve the mental, social, and physical fitness of remote employees.From digital health solutions to social events designed to address worker loneliness, wellness initiatives address the specific needs of remote workers to improve health outcomes and boost employee engagement. Below mentioned are a few creative and practical employee wellness ideas for remote workplaces:- 1. Host Feel-Good Meetings- Hosting some feel-good meetings will keep employees away from feeling isolated and help them stay connected with their co-workers. These emotional connections play a vital role in keeping your employees engaged constantly. Engaging with employees and making them feel valued as individuals can boost employee morale. 2. Virtual Lunch and Learns- A lunch and learn is a presentation or training session offered to employees in a laid-back style. Styles and formats vary, but it generally includes coverage of a single topic during a lunch hour. Employers can choose from an array of topics from personal financial wellness to stress management techniques that can be taught by local experts or even someone in your company’s benefits department. 3. Mental health support- While working from home does reduce some common stress factors, such as the need to deal with traffic each day or getting late to work, it does introduce another set of challenges for mental health. Managers need to make their remote employees feel comfortable about taking time off to destress, the same way they would if they had a doctor's appointment or the flu. Additionally, you could offer access to online therapy or counseling sessions as a remote employee benefit, similar to dental or eye care. 4. Group Workouts & Virtual Games- Group Workouts like Zumba & Yoga classes could help employees keep their body & mind fit and healthy, creating a culture that promotes physical wellbeing. Also, traditional offices sometimes offer perks like ping pong tables, arcade games, and board games so that employees can socialize and relax. Virtual offices can achieve the same results by building an online game lounge. Simply make a Slack channel or an always-on video meeting room where remote employees can go to play games with colleagues. It could be a fun break and could help employees feel rejuvenated. On the oth 5. Goal Sharing Sessions- One way to motivate employees and maintain self esteem is to encourage staff to share goals with each other. On a regular basis, check in with the team for updates. Throughout the exercise, teammates provide each other with encouragement and advice on how to accomplish goals. Be sure to encourage employees to react to and celebrate each others’ announcements and milestones. For extra incentive, award victorious participants with a prize such as a complimentary meal, virtual party, or a digital badge. Wellness programs are especially important for remote employees. Due to the independent nature of virtual work, it can take longer to realize that a teammate is struggling. Each employee has a distinct set of personal goals; similarly, no two cultures are the same. Make sure that you do not overwhelm your employees with multiple challenges. All you need to do is make it fun and engaging. The more fun your wellness programs are, the more fit and healthy your employees stay! To know more about Virtual Wellness Programs for remote workers offered by Wellness Associates, click on the link below: https://www.wellnessassociates.in