Employee wellbeing and mental health are not only essential for the personal happiness and health of your staff but also for the success and growth of your organization. According to a report by the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. On the other hand, investing in employee wellness programs can generate an average return of $4 for every $1 spent, through improved performance, engagement, retention, and reduced absenteeism and turnover.

In this blog, we will explore the benefits of investing in employee wellness programs, the challenges and barriers to implementing them, and how GoKlaim can help you design and manage a flexible, transparent, and simple wellness plan for your employees.

Benefits of Investing in Employee Wellness Programs

Employee wellness programs are initiatives that aim to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of your staff through various services, activities, and benefits. Some examples of employee wellness programs are:

• Providing mental health support, such as counseling, coaching, or online resources
• Offering stress management and relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or massage
• Encouraging work-life balance and flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting, flexible hours, or paid time off
• Promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyles, such as gym memberships, fitness classes, or nutrition programs
• Supporting personal and professional development, such as tuition reimbursement, courses, seminars, or mentoring

Employee wellness programs can have a positive impact on your organization’s productivity by enhancing the following aspects:

• Performance: Employees who are healthy, happy, and motivated tend to perform better, produce higher quality work, and meet or exceed their goals and expectations.
• Engagement: Employees who feel valued, supported, and recognized tend to be more engaged, committed, and loyal to their organization and its mission and vision.
• Retention: Employees who are satisfied, fulfilled, and challenged tend to stay longer, reduce turnover costs, and contribute to a stable and experienced workforce.
• Culture: Employees who are connected, collaborative, and respectful tend to create a positive and inclusive culture where diversity, innovation, and creativity are fostered and celebrated.

There is ample evidence and research that supports the link between employee wellness programs and organizational productivity. For instance, a study by Harvard Business Review found that employees who participated in wellness programs had 25% lower absenteeism and medical costs, 32% lower disability costs, and 50% lower turnover rates than those who did not. Another article by Forbes reported that wellness programs can increase employee productivity by 5% to 11%, which is equivalent to adding one additional day of productive work per month for each employee.

Challenges and Barriers to Implementing Employee Wellness Programs

Despite the clear benefits of investing in employee wellness programs, many employers may face some difficulties or obstacles when trying to prioritize employee well-being and mental health. Some of the common challenges and barriers are:

• Cost: Many employers may perceive wellness programs as an expensive and unnecessary expense rather than a strategic and long-term investment. They may also lack the budget, resources, or expertise to design and implement effective wellness programs.
• Stigma: Many employers and employees may have negative or inaccurate attitudes and beliefs about mental health issues, such as seeing them as a sign of weakness, a personal problem, or a taboo topic. They may also fear discrimination, judgment, or retaliation if they seek or offer help.
• Awareness: Many employers and employees may lack the awareness or knowledge of the importance and benefits of wellness programs, the availability and accessibility of wellness services and resources, or the best practices and standards for wellness programs.
• Engagement: Many employers and employees may have low or inconsistent participation and engagement in wellness programs due to factors such as lack of interest, motivation, time, or support.

These challenges and barriers can be overcome by adopting some of the following solutions or strategies:

• Involving employees in the design and evaluation of wellness programs to ensure that they are relevant, responsive, and tailored to their needs, preferences, and feedback.
• Creating a culture of wellness, where employee well-being and mental health are valued, promoted, and integrated into the organization’s policies, practices, and goals.
• Communicating the benefits and value of wellness programs, to educate and inform employees about the positive impact of wellness programs on their personal and professional lives, and encourage and incentivize them to participate and engage in wellness activities and services.
• Partnering with GoKlaim to simplify and streamline the management and administration of your wellness programs, and to provide your employees with a user-friendly and flexible wellness plan that suits their individual needs and goals.

How GoKlaim Can Help You Prioritize Employee Wellbeing and Mental Health

GoKlaim is a health and wellness spending account provider that allows you to offer your employees a customized and flexible wellness plan that they can use for a wide range of eligible expenses, such as:

• Medical expenses, such as ambulance service, baby breathing monitors, attendant care, assisted breathing devices, etc.
• Dental care, such as exams, cleanings, restorations, surgeries, etc.
• Sports and leisure, such as day passes, memberships, equipment for activities from hockey to camping, etc.
• Health products and services, such as nutrition programs, massages, spas, supplements, health consultations, etc.
• Education and personal development, such as tuition fees, courses, books, seminars, personal computers, etc.
• Green living, such as public transit passes, solar energy and wind energy products, energy home audits, etc.
• Work-life balance, such as childcare, elder care, pet-care services, meal kits, etc.
• Eye care, such as exams, surgeries, prescription glasses, contacts, etc.
• Professional services, such as estate planning, financial investment counseling, legal expenses, etc.

With GoKlaim, you can design and manage your wellness plan the way it suits you and your employees. You can:

• Add dependents, who get their own login and access to the wellness plan
• Customize the categories and subcategories of eligible expenses, according to your budget and objectives
• Rollover the unused balances to the next year, so that your employees do not lose or waste their wellness funds
• Provide allowances, so that your employees can maximize the benefits from their wellness funds

Your employees can easily access and use their wellness plan through the GoKlaim app, where they can:

• View their balance, upcoming allowances, and history of claims
• Snap, describe, and connect their receipts, and get their claims reimbursed in no time
• Receive monthly reports on their allowance usage and wellness activities

GoKlaim is simple, transparent, and flexible. It offers you and your employees:

• Simplicity: A user-friendly app and dashboard to view and manage your wellness plan, and a hassle-free process to file and receive your claims
• Transparency: A clear and upfront pricing model, with no hidden fees or surprise annual increases
• Flexibility: A scalable and customizable wellness plan that can be adjusted and modified according to your changing needs and goals

Conclusion

Prioritizing employee wellbeing and mental health is not only a moral and ethical duty but also a smart and profitable decision. Investing in employee wellness programs can boost your organizational productivity by improving the performance, engagement, retention, and culture of your workforce. However, implementing employee wellness programs can also pose some challenges and barriers, such as cost, stigma, awareness, and engagement. These can be overcome by involving your employees, creating a culture of wellness, communicating the benefits and value of wellness programs, and partnering with GoKlaim.

GoKlaim is a health and wellness spending account provider that allows you to offer your employees a customized and flexible wellness plan that they can use for a wide range of eligible expenses, such as medical, dental, sports, health, education, green living, work-life balance, eye care, and professional services. With GoKlaim, you can design and manage your wellness plan the way it suits you and your employees, and provide them with a simple, transparent, and flexible wellness solution.

If you are interested in learning more about GoKlaim and how it can help you prioritize employee well-being and mental health, please request a demo or contact our sales team. We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for reading our blog, and stay tuned for more updates and insights on employee wellness and productivity.

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