How to Recognize National Wellness Month in the Workplace this August

National Wellness Month in August presents a strategic opportunity for HR and benefits teams. It’s a valuable opportunity to highlight the programs and initiatives you offer while renewing your commitment to employee wellbeing.

There are many ways to recognize National Wellness Month, so the options may seem overwhelming.

Here are four simple yet impactful ways to celebrate at your workplace (and drive positive outcomes, too). 

Align Initiatives Across the Pillars of Workplace Wellbeing

In today's fast-paced and demanding workplace, nurturing employee wellness has become a crucial aspect of creating a thriving and productive culture.

The six pillars of workplace wellbeing each represent a vital dimension of your employees' lives. By embracing and implementing innovative strategies in these areas, you can empower your team members to bring their best selves to work every day, fostering happiness, engagement, and a sense of belonging within your organization.

The Six Pillars of Workplace Wellbeing Are:

1. Physical Wellbeing
2. Encourage employees to prioritize their physical health through fitness benefits, such as access to bootcamps and yoga sessions, to manage stress and prevent burnout.
3. Financial wellbeing 
4. Providing employees with a trusted financial plan through digital tools and access to Certified Financial Planner™ professionals to reduce financial stress and improve overall wellbeing. Explore LearnLux, the leading financial wellbeing program provider for your entire workforce.
5. Career wellbeing
6. Creating a company culture that rewards exceptional work, offering ongoing training and development, and ensuring employees understand how their job aligns with the company's goals.
7. Social wellbeing
8. Promoting employee social engagement through team socials, ice-breakers, and employee resource groups (ERGs) to foster connections and a sense of belonging.
9. Mental wellbeing
10. Addressing mental health issues by offering personalized mental health benefits to support employees' well-being and productivity.
11. Community wellbeing
12. Encouraging community engagement and volunteer work through a corporate volunteerism program aligned with broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

For more information on the six pillars of workplace wellbeing including program examples and campaign ideas, explore The Six Pillars of Workplace Wellbeing guide today.

Spotlight your wellbeing benefits

National Wellness Month is a great opportunity to remind your team about the powerful benefits at their fingertips. A recent study found that 80% of employees say they understand their benefits, but the results of a recent knowledge test concluded that only 49% actually do.

With open enrollment right around the corner, this presents a powerful opportunity to fill the gap. Educate employees on their wellbeing benefits by:

• Launching a digital benefits scavenger hunt with prizes
• Hosting a “Breakfast and Benefits” webinar with your consultants/vendors
• Creating weekly intranet posts or email campaigns that spotlight your financial wellbeing program, physical wellness initiatives, mental wellbeing benefits & other offerings 

Create, or Tap Into, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Employee communities are a powerful way to share information and collect feedback. For National Wellness Month, plan a calendar of wellbeing campaigns and get those ERGs involved.

For example, invite special guests to host a fireside chat on wellbeing topics for LGBTQIA+ or Working Parents groups. By curating wellbeing initiatives to specific employee groups, these targeted topics are more likely to resonate and drive engagement. Survey these groups and gather ideas for next year’s Wellness Month, too.

Offer Access to Experts

As an HR or benefits professional, you have a lot on your plate. The good news is that you don’t have to shoulder the weight of employee wellbeing alone. This August (and beyond), tap into a network of experts in each of the six key areas of employee wellbeing. By bringing in licensed professionals to offer guidance to your workforce, you can ensure they are getting the best support available on their journey to wellbeing.

For example, HR teams don’t have the time or accreditation to answer every unique benefit and personal finance question an employee might have. By partnering with a workplace financial wellbeing program that offers digital tools and access to Certified Financial Planner™ professionals, you can call on the experts for trustworthy, compliant guidance. 

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We hope these suggestions spark inspiration for celebrating National Wellness Month at your workplace.

For help implementing any of these ideas or to discuss your company’s financial wellbeing strategy, feel free to reach out. At LearnLux, we’re here to help.