The top 5 ways that employers can improve their employee wellness programs

Employee wellness programs play a vital role in driving retention and engagement. If you are building or reviewing your wellness program, here are five steps you can take to strengthen its impact:
1. Securing leadership buy-in
2. Using data to design wellness programs that work
3. Prioritizing mental health supports
4. Keeping employees engaged with regular updates
5. Making workplace wellness fun

For many workplaces, fall feels like a fresh start with new routines, new goals and new opportunities to support employees. It’s also the perfect time to revisit your employee wellness program.

A strong wellness program helps your people thrive — mentally, physically, financially and socially — and in turn creates a healthier, more engaged workplace. In this article, Crystal Valente, Client Service Specialist & Wellness Coordinator at Acera Benefits, shares five proven strategies to help you build a program that supports your employees and strengthens your business.

Tip 1: Secure leadership buy-in to build a strong employee wellness program

To develop a wellness program that best supports your employees’ wellbeing, you need your leadership team to understand and champion it so that you can work together to craft effective policies and best practices to enhance employee wellness.

Leaders serve as a reassuring presence for an organization and having your leadership team aligned on the messaging for your employee wellness initiatives is important.

At Acera Benefits, we host discovery sessions with an organization’s leadership team to align on the programs goals and define what a “healthy workforce” means for your business.

Key questions can include:

• Why are you investing in employee wellness?
• How does your workplace support your employees?
• Do you have a formal HR department that employees can come to with questions or concerns?
• What does a healthy workplace mean to your company?
• How are you communicating with your employees?
• Is there an employee recognition program?
• What do your time-off policies entail?

Tip 2: Use data insights to design wellness programs that work

According to the Global Talent Trends 2024-2025 report, 82% of employees are at risk of burnout. Conducting regular employee wellness assessments through employee surveys, benefit plan diagnostics and tracking absenteeism patterns are key practices for gathering data that improves employee wellness outcomes.

This data provides insights into the areas that may be pain points in your organization when it comes to supporting mental, physical, financial and social health among your employees. Poor wellness indicators could include:

• Increased short-term disability claims
• Performance issues and morale concerns
• Monday/Friday absenteeism
• Employee retention
• Personal and family life challenges

The information can be a powerful tool in helping to tailor an employee assistance program that addresses the unique needs of your organization.

Tip 3: Prioritize mental health supports to improve employee wellbeing

Increasing the spend available for paramedical services focused on mental health or expanding the spectrum of providers to include psychologists, social workers and clinic counsellors can have a significant impact on improving your employee wellbeing.

A robust employee and family assistance program that provides confidential well-rounded services in support of physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing is also important.

In the Global Talent Trends 2024-2025 report, 46% of employees said they would be willing to forgo a 10% pay increase in exchange for additional wellbeing benefits. Investing in these programs is important in helping retain and attract employees.

Tip 4: Keep employees engaged with regular wellness program updates

Your employees can’t access and utilize programs that they don’t know about. Make sure to provide regular updates about the employee assistance programs that are available to them.

This can be as simple as putting posters in your lunchroom with information about benefits or hosting lunch and learns on topics like:

• Nutrition
• Financial wellness
• Ergonomics
• Psychological safety

Tip 5: Make workplace wellness fun to boost morale and connection

One of the best features of employee wellness programs are the opportunities they provide for your team to have fun and increase engagement throughout the company.

This can be achieved through initiatives like wellness challenges that get people moving during the day, creating community groups that enable teams to connect and have fun together and promoting an environment where employees feel supported and heard.

Acera Benefits is here to help you

Not sure where to start with your employee benefits programs? Acera Benefits will guide your business through designing and administering a meaningful and competitive benefits plan that addresses the unique requirements of your organization and employees.

Let’s build a wellness program that keeps your employees engaged — and your business moving forward with confidence.