The impact of physical health on employee wellbeing & business success
The status of employee health
The good news is that many employees want to prioritize their physical health. In the latest TELUS Mental Health Index, more than half of employees said they want to improve their fitness. Of course, such goals often are easier articulated than achieved, which is why wellbeing offerings from employers can help fuel employee motivation. In fact, 47% of employees with access to an employer wellbeing program report being physically fit, compared to the 27% without a program, according to Wellhub data.
While many employees are motivated to improve their fitness, the benefits of physical activity extend beyond just physical health. Incorporating physical activity into wellbeing programs can offer cascading benefits across different aspects of health. Many employees experience issues such as anxiety (20%), cardiovascular or circulatory issues (15%), depression (15%) and sleep disorders (12%). Physical activity can help prevent or lessen the experience of many of these issues.
How employers can boost employee motivation
To promote physical health and overall wellbeing in their workforce, employers can implement several different types of offerings that engage and support employees. It’s important to consider the full range of factors that impact an employee’s ability to participate in activities that improve their wellbeing, from budgetary considerations to individual schedules and circumstances.
Financial initiatives: Wellbeing spending accounts take the financial stress off employees who want to stay physically active but need to make a monetary investment to do so, such as maintaining a gym membership or purchasing home exercise equipment.
Wellbeing challenges: Many organizations have developed programs and activities that incorporate team-building and a friendly sense of competition. For example, TELUS Health hosts bi-annual wellbeing challenges that invite employees to engage in more physical activity and meaningful social interactions with colleagues. Participants join teams and earn points for tracking their physical activity and movement. These programs help build connection and motivation, ultimately supporting participants’ physical and mental health.
Holistic support: To truly promote employee wellbeing, employers must foster a workplace culture with a holistic approach to wellbeing. For example, employees may have the best of intentions with their health goals, but if they can’t accommodate fitness activities in their schedule before or after work, they may simply not do them. However, if their employer encourages taking time for physical activity during the workday, or provides a space for employees to exercise on site, employees are more likely to engage in that activity.
Personalized programs: As employers navigate a diverse, multigenerational workforce, it’s also increasingly important to create wellbeing programs that are nimble and flexible, allowing for personalization. Employees at different ages and stages of life will have different needs and goals, as well as different capabilities and preferred methods of physical activity—and all of these may change over time. Providing a variety of offerings with different forms of support will help meet employees where they are.
The impact of employee wellbeing on business success
Benefits packages and programs that help employees increase their level of physical activity and improve their overall wellbeing aren’t “nice to haves,” they’re business imperatives. Employers who fall short in this area will feel the effects. For example, sedentary employees lose 14 more days of productivity annually than their active colleagues, undermining performance, efficiency and business results, according to the TELUS Mental Health Index.
Additionally, employees who are dissatisfied with their physical health (14%) report having worse mental health and wellbeing than those who are satisfied (63%). That’s a major concern for employers, as mental wellbeing also has a significant impact on employees’ productivity and quality of work; burnt-out and ability to keep motivated.
On the other hand, increasing physical activity and improving overall wellbeing creates both personal and professional benefits. Many employees find relief in physical activity; it helps alleviate their day-to-day stress, makes their workload feel more manageable and improves their general outlook. And, when employees attribute these improvements—at least in part—to investments in their wellbeing made by their employer, there’s a halo effect.
Workers who rate their employer support for their physical wellbeing as “excellent” lose half as many days of productivity in a year: 23 days compared to 46 days lost per year among workers who rate employer support as “poor.” This underlines how, when employees feel supported by their employer, it creates a positive sentiment that fosters an improved company culture and a more dedicated and loyal workforce.
To drive the highest levels of work productivity and performance, employers need to act now. Prioritizing programs that support physical activity and overall wellbeing can improve both the personal and professional lives of employees, empowering them to bring their best to work each day—ultimately benefiting the bottom line.
Paula Allen is the Global Leader, Research and Client Insights at TELUS Health (formerly LifeWorks). In this role she manages the research agenda for TELUS Health, which includes primary research, exploratory data science, research collaborations and meta-analyses. Her focus is on discovering defining and communicating industry trends; service development that aligns with emerging market needs; and supporting TELUS Health’s clients with insights and data-driven decision guidance.
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