Wellness Programs Are Not The Solution To Deeper Issues

  • Posted on Jan 21, 2024

Do you ever feel like we’re so focused on the icing that we forget about the cake? ๐Ÿฐ

In the world of work, we often get so caught up in the superficial aspects that we overlook the core issues. The same applies to workplace wellness programs. While they can be beneficial, they often only address the symptoms, not the root cause.

As a change agent and interventionist, I’ve seen how wellness programs can become a ‘check the box’ activity, a band-aid solution to deeper issues. The real solution lies in creating a healthy, inclusive workplace culture where employees are compensated and feel valued.

An inclusive workplace culture where employees feel like they belong can significantly reduce the need for wellness programs. However, these programs should not be dismissed entirely, but rather, should complement a nurturing work environment.

This is akin to delegating change management solely to HR, when it should be led by organizational leadership. When the workplace isn’t safe or welcoming, and compensation isn’t perceived as equitable, it’s not enough for leadership to suggest that employees “work off their stressโ€ at the company provided gym/virtual yoga class or โ€œtalk it outโ€ with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

The most common missed opportunity I’ve observed is when organizations fail to act on the data provided by their EAPs. This data, if used correctly, can be a goldmine of insights, leading to impactful changes and significant ROI.

As a clinical sociologist and HR advisor focused both on helping employers build more inclusive workplaces and #solopreneurs and #jobseekers
achieve #careerwellness, this is an issue close to my heart.

We need a more balanced approach to wellness at work.

We need leaders to lead.

Let’s not just focus on the icing, let’s bake a better cake together. Let’s create workplaces that are healthy and inclusive – not just create the appearance that they are.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe wellness programs are enough, or do we need to dig deeper?

#WorkplaceWellness#InclusiveWorkplace#OrganizationalSociology

***

๐Ÿ’œ ๐—œ ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—˜๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜† ๐—–. ๐—ฃ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ

๐Ÿ”‘ Helping organizations advance their goals of an inclusive workplace culture and an engaged workforce

โ˜… Guiding members of historically marginalized groups to #careerwellness, joy, and freedom through my career consulting programs โฌ‡๏ธ

http://tinyurl.com/597n7h5u – ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ: ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ณ-๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—™๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—บ http://tinyurl.com/5c3fxftv – ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—” ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—๐—ผ๐—ฏ ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜

๐ŸŒธ โ–บSchedule a consultation for HR & Advisory services: https://tinyurl.com/mryysekw

๐ŸŒธโ–บSchedule a free career strategy chat about your individual goals: https://tinyurl.com/2zkupvme

๐Ÿ”ฅโญ ๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—บ๐˜† ๐—™๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐—š๐—ถ๐—ณ๐˜ ๐—ฉ๐—ฎ๐˜‚๐—น๐˜ โžก๏ธ https://mailchi.mp/9b09c50c8be4/gifts. Training videos, mini-workshops, and more!  

๐Ÿ’œ Innovativespirit.org๐Ÿ’œ