Interwoven Elements of Workplace Wellness

I am a firm believer that company culture, company policy, and workplace wellness are all intertwined. They are all pieces of the same fabric, woven together to create the experience of each employee. No one element can be easily separated without impacting the other elements. 

Although I do work with companies to improve their workplace wellness and create healthy supportive environments for employees, this would be impossible to do without also looking at the existing company culture and policies that support or work against the workplace wellness strategies we are trying to design. If the company culture is one of negativity and gossip, then adding a healthy potluck once a month will not create a happy workforce. Running clubs, fitness challenges, and walking meetings can't be successful without buy-in from management. 

When trying to create a healthier environment at work, examine the company culture and policies as well. Asking a few of the following questions when starting your planning process might help include company culture into the big picture and help create better outcomes. 

• Why is this initiative important to your company? Why now?

• Is there buy-in from management? 

• Will employees support each other participating in this initiative? 

• Is this something that employees want? Have you asked them? 

• Are there any policies that currently exist that support or contradict this initiative? 

Asking these questions each time you plan something new with your workplace wellness committee will ensure that you creating long-lasting impact. 

TIP: Add these questions to your workplace wellness committee planning checklist

October Workplace Wellness Planning

Planning ahead makes adding special awareness days and holidays easier to implement at work. These days can be fun or serious, creating awareness or being an engaging social time to build relationships between coworkers. 

Planning a special event day at work doesn’t have to mean complicated and stressful. It can be something simple like an email or poster campaign, or something more involved with a catered lunch and lots of activities. Planning ahead can reduce stress and improve communication, which can result in a better event with a higher participation rate from staff. Even if you don’t have a wellness committee or a workplace wellness strategy, including a special event day can help your team feel connected and improve morale. 

If you’re wanting to plan something for October I’ve included some ideas for your workplace. For the following health promotion topics there are usually resources available online to share around your workplace. You can also look for other health promotion days that are meaningful to your team. 

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month

• Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 6 to 12)

• World Mental Health Day (October 10)

If you want to add some fun to your calendar check out the following days:

• International Coffee Day (October 1): Bring coffee in for all the staff or take a field trip to a local cafe. 

• Improve Your Office Day (October 4): Ask the staff what is one thing management can do and implement on this day, or have everyone do something that can improve their space on that day. 

• Train Your Brain Day (October 13): Look for fun brain teasers to share in the break room or have an office trivia challenge. 

• World Food Day (October 16): Potluck or catered, food is always appreciated at work. 

• Chocolate Cupcake Day (October 18): Bring in some mini cupcakes or do a cupcake bar where everyone can decorate their own chocolate cupcake the way they like it with fun toppings! 

• Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day (October 21): Send out a notice and remind staff how amazing a clean desktop will feel! 

Remember to adapt your events to make sense for your workplace. Whenever possible include others in the planning to help share the workload and generate more unique ideas. Lastly, don't forget to make the planning and the event a fun activity!