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How to get the most out of the 2024 Health and Wellness Roadmap [FREE download]

By: Benefits by Design | Tuesday January 30, 2024

Updated : Monday January 29, 2024

text: How to get the most out of the 2024 Health and Wellness Roadmap [FREE download] Image of remote employee stretching on yoga mat with a kitty under her desk, a plant, and a lamp.

The health and wellness of Canadians has been on a downward trend since even before the pandemic. The isolation, delayed treatment of conditions, and subsequent substance use to cope caused many people’s general and mental health to decline.

Employers have realized the direct impact an unhealthy workforce can have on the performance of their business. Which is why many are increasingly incorporating employee health and wellness strategies within their organization.

The new and improved 2024 Health and Wellness Roadmap

Introducing our redesigned 2024 Health and Wellness Roadmap. We’ve changed the format to improve the user experience and allow the utilization of the activities and resources to be accessed and used regardless of the time of year.

13 Tips to Help Promote Employee Health and Wellbeing – Part 1

The four pillars of health

Individuals are not split into health categories. Which means that our physical, financial, social, and mental health are all impacted by each other. When one part of a person’s health deteriorates, everything else is affected.

Our previous iterations of our Health and Wellness Calendars were designed to provide information on a quarterly basis. Which meant that some of the resources we linked to were time sensitive. And the links that were not date-dependent were being buried because they were attached to a specific time of year.

This year, we’ve divided the roadmap into the four pillars of health and provided ideas, activities, and resources to help promote each of them.

13 Tips to Help Promote Employee Health and Wellbeing – Part 2

Physical

This is the most noticeable pillar of health. People have been focusing on improving their physical health for as long as we can remember, and the changes are often visual and therefore noticeable.

“Today, physical wellness encompasses many aspects including exercise, sleep, overall lifestyle, and food choices.” – Forbes contributor Jeanne Meister

We’ve compiled a multitude of physical health and wellness ideas that will help encourage employees to stay active and flexible, eat healthier, and avoid chronic pain issues.

Healthy Workdays: Solutions for Common Office Health Problems

Financial

The financial predicament of many Canadians is adding to our stress. Managing stressful personal finances while maintaining focus at work and getting enough sleep can be difficult. In fact, almost 60% of workers say that finances were their top cause of stress – resulting in loss of sleep and decreased mental and physical health. On top of that, “financially stressed employees are also more likely to leave. Only 54% feel there is a promising future for them at their employer.”

Improving financial literacy and increasing employee compensation can help manage financial anxiety and stress. Create a more loyal, healthier, and focused workforce using our tools and resources to help employees learn about finances, save for the future, and develop skills towards their career goals.

The role of employee benefits in debt consolidation

Social

The idea of socializing at work can sound counterproductive. Yet, it’s been proven to increase employee loyalty, engagement and development. “Seventy percent of employees say that having friends at work is the most crucial element to a happy working life.” And those with friends are 137% more likely to receive personal development support, and they are also less likely to leave their job – even when offered more money!

The loneliness created by the pandemic continues to permeate workplaces, especially for remote and hybrid employees. Employers can offset this by encouraging workplace friendships, committing to helping the community, and providing worry-free vacations.

How to bring DEI to Group Benefits – and Why You Should

Mental

Finally, we bring it all together with mental health. This health pillar can potentially have the largest impact on all other pillars, and can be impacted greatly by them as well. Therefore it’s important to make mental health a priority. When employees have poor mental health, it can lead to lost productivity and engagement, as well as increased tension and work conflicts.

At the same time, working can help give employees a sense of achievement and purpose, provide an income and structure, and help them feel like a part of a community.

Show your employees you care about their mental health and wellbeing by supporting their learning and development and educating them on the use of their mental health benefits. Show employees your appreciation by recognizing their hard work and dedication.

Overcoming Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace & Support Employees

Awareness Days

We have included specific awareness days and months within the 2024 Health and Wellness Roadmap that employers can use to help motivate and inspire employees to take care of themselves.

Employers can correspond their different wellness initiatives with the days that resonate with them and their employees. You can find a list of awareness days for each pillar of health, along with links to more information and resources.

For example, March 15^th is World Heart Day, which we’ve placed under the physical health pillar. Whereas December 5^th is International Volunteer Day, which is found under social health.

Use these as a starting point for launching different wellness campaigns for your office or workplace.

Why use the 2024 Health and Wellness Roadmap?

According to Statistics Canada, the percentage of Canadians reporting their mental health as very good or excellent has been dropping in all age categories since 2015, with younger adults seeing the largest decrease. Consequently, Canadians aged 18-34 are the least mentally healthy.

General health is better when we are young. Our health declines the older we get – about 50% of Canadians over 65 reported their general health was excellent or very good. At the same time, 65% for Canadians aged 18-34 are in excellent or very good health. The percentage goes down incrementally for each age group. See image below.

Canadians reporting very good or excellent general and mental health, by age group and sex.

Given this phenomenon, it’s increasingly important to support employees’ wellbeing. – Accomplish this easily by utilizing the many resources available through the 2024 Health and Wellness Roadmap – your guide to workplace wellness initiatives and strategies!