Many Indian companies have employee wellness programs but how does one know they work?
These three questions could tell you whether or not you are on the right track:
- Do you know what metrics matter to your organisation?
- Have you done a complete need analysis of your employees based on the nature of industry and their individual profiles? Have you used this to craft your employee wellness program?
- Have you linked objectives and KPIs to what can make a difference to employee productivity?
If you answered no to at least 1 of the above questions, then chances are that you may not be boosting your employees as well as you should.
Life and Money, India’s pioneer in the digital wellness for employee space, conducted a Twitter chat on January 19th, 2017. To better understand physical wellness in the Indian employee wellness space, we decided to bring in Siddharth Banerjee and Eika Banerjee to facilitate the chat.
Do we take emotional wellness seriously enough?
Eika Chaturvedi Banerjee leads three Future Learning business verticals and is also the creator of Future Learning’s line of signature programs, Bodhi. Siddharth Banerjee is the Executive Vice President (EVP) – Marketing and Head of Brand, Insights, Media, Activation and Digital at Vodafone India.
The theme of the chat was ‘The Science and Ancient Wisdom around Physical Wellness.’ Eika set the theme rolling by pinning down the concept of wellness as defined by our shastras, because it affects us and how we are, unlike employees from another country or culture.
According to Eika, physical wellness is tied down to emotional and financial wellness.
In our shastras, there is only one life… and it plays through the emotional, the physical, the intellectual and the spiritual body…
— Eika Banerjee (@eikabanerjee) January 19, 2018
Emotional wellness is linked to the prana… and there are just 4 variables that influence prana… food, sleep, exercise and breathing… it really is that simple… #LnMChat
— Eika Banerjee (@eikabanerjee) January 19, 2018
According to Anu Krishna, heightened self-awareness is key, as it will always tell us what the body needs. This is where India can one up other countries when it comes to understanding wellness – it takes into account the mind, body and soul. Louise Hay, Stephen Covey, George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick have been hugely influenced by Indian philosophy, Vedanta and ancient wisdom.
When talking about health and its importance in our lives, many participants in the chat came forward with their own experiences of how they neglected their health and how this played a toll on their emotional and financial health.
And thats why satvik food for me really has worked! Emotionally as well as physically! My clients also now vouch by that #LnMChat
— Anu Krishna (@anuk_wordweave) January 19, 2018
Anu Krishna noted that specific food habits and beliefs can also have an impact on the body and mind.
And thats why satvik food for me really has worked! Emotionally as well as physically! My clients also now vouch by that #LnMChat
— Anu Krishna (@anuk_wordweave) January 19, 2018
Environment has little bearing on how happy we are as its something that we can’t control! a lot of inner work to be done to be in a space of happiness and positivity despite the environment! Happy state of mind also makes us reach out to the right foods! Mind and Gut go together
— Anu Krishna (@anuk_wordweave) January 19, 2018
Everything is in the mind! It controls your physical and emotional wellness definitely! #LnMChat
— Karuna Cherukupalli (@karunacheruku) January 19, 2018
Many ways…I can quote my own example.. Diabetes patient..sweet tooth…emotional eating…hits the pocket too:( @sidbanerjee13 @eikabanerjee @Urlifemoney #LnMChat https://t.co/e6ImntGWfA
— partha iyengar (@parthaiyengar) January 19, 2018
#LnMChat All three are connected so deeply. When I was young, I just wanted money. I didn’t take health seriously. Last week, I was terribly ill and I realized just how important it is not to skip that scan or to eat healthy food and exercise.
— Shweta Sharan (@shwesharan) January 19, 2018
It’s that simple. Physical fitness impacts emotional health, which impacts the ability to be productive, earn money and make tough financial decisions. It’s time companies started tailoring programs and cues to make all these aspects work for an employee, instead of just have workshops in siloes. For example, it is not just important to talk about good habits to follow (working out, drinking, not feasting on junk) but getting into the psychology of how humans can trick their minds into forming good habits and breaking bad ones.
A1/2 @sidbanerjee13 @eikabanerjee #LnMChat @Urlifemoney one needs to have balance wrt to health, emotion & wealth to lead a happy, healthy & wealthy life
— Mithun Sanyal (@mithgyp) January 19, 2018
How to encourage employees to take physical wellness seriously
Siddharth Banerjee advocates following micro steps to make physical wellness a successful employee wellness prerogative.
#LnMChat – thru what we would call MICRO STEPS – for example – 1) put Calorie Value on food served in cafeteria 2) put messages on Elevators asking to Take The Steps Instead and maybe 3) Giving Fitness Bands instead instead of sweets on Diwali
— Siddharth Banerjee (@sidbanerjee13) January 19, 2018
This is a great way to get employees to understand just what goes into their food. Even Richard Thaler, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics recently for his work in economics and ‘choice architecture,’ talks about how restaurants and the entire food industry controls how you eat by omissions and commissions. Many restaurants don’t mention calorie count. Food labels are made with the assumption (and many times it is correct) that consumers don’t know how to read labels effectively. Salad or diet coke is given with cheesy hamburgers to allay this fear that the meal isn’t too unhealthy after all. It is up to us to be conscious consumers and employers can give the right ‘nudge’ to their employees by making sure they choose from hygienic food, whether it is a paratha or a pizza. And ban instant noodles!
#LnMChat I am not an employer but speaking as an employee, I think a good way to encourage me would be to make sure there is healthy food in the pantry. When I was in a full-time manic job, I would eat junk off the office cart, especially Maggi. Yikes!
— Shweta Sharan (@shwesharan) January 19, 2018
Our participants had some superb ideas to get employees to take physical wellness seriously.
A2: Gift them a step tracker. Create a cross Dept/continent team and make them compete. #LnMChat https://t.co/xuKd9rEQbT
— ankita poddar (@ankitapoddar) January 19, 2018
A2)
1. Discounted gym memberships
2. Encourage them to drink water
3. Ask them to take the stairs and forgot elevator
4. Try standing desks
5. Install cycle storage for a greener commute #LnMChat— Satz (@sathish_ganesh) January 19, 2018
A2. I remember @plugHR how we encouraged everyone on fitness, participating in runs and sports was kind of a mandate to pick a right fit!! #LnMChat
— Rakshita Dwivedi (@Raks_d) January 19, 2018
Smriti Joshi advocated distraction-free eating zones or spaces, where employees could unwind, eat and look at food as a community affair, instead of just gulping food down on the go and getting a task done.
also mindful eating- distraction free eating space; eating while seating; chewing the food slowly noticing aroma texture of food on plate; take a small plate; feeling gratitude for each bite one takes #LnMChat
— Smriti Joshi (@SmritiSawhney) January 19, 2018
Manoj Ganapathi suggested gamifying health goals.
#Gamification is a great tool IMO. #LnMChat. For e.g, If your dashboard/app says you rank in the bottom 10 percentile in the step count contest or overall fitness index in your org/age group, that might induce action or outcomes
— Manoj Ganapathi (@manojgr) January 19, 2018
How technology can help employees embrace physical wellness
The participants discussed how technology can be used to make employees understand the importance of healthy living practices. A few Twitter users mentioned that technology could be a distraction because of how it is taking over our lives.
Some of them said that it is all about how technology is used. In fact, technology could be used to measure the employees’ progress and health goals.
#LnMChat @eikabanerjee Use Technology for Time management – for your KPI Measurement – for Sharing Your Goals and getting advice
— Siddharth Banerjee (@sidbanerjee13) January 19, 2018
A4. #LnMChat I think technology can help amplify awareness (metrics) and action (nudge) – now that we have more connected and more personal devices. These days social networks can be harnessed well (like #FitBit community) for inspiring action
— Manoj Ganapathi (@manojgr) January 19, 2018
The engagement scores, as well as absolute productivity metrics, Organizational engagement metrics, and retention scores would all reflect your investment in employee wellness #LnMChat
— Eika Banerjee (@eikabanerjee) January 19, 2018
Technology (Mobile apps) helps/ motivates you to increase your physical activity. I use “Google Fit” to track my activities. #LnMChat
— Satz (@sathish_ganesh) January 19, 2018
RT @manojgr: @Urlifemoney @eikabanerjee @sidbanerjee13 #Gamification is a great tool IMO. #LnMChat. For e.g, If your dashboard/app says you rank in the bottom 10 percentile in the step count contest or overall fitness index in your org/age group, that might induce action or …
— Sard Imperium (@SardImperium) January 19, 2018
The engagement scores, as well as absolute productivity metrics, organization engagement metrics and retention scores, would all reflect your investment in employee wellness!
Siddharth also suggested an idea that could well become a huge trend!
#LnMChat – agreed. To extend the logic, Preventive steps like this will ensure a healthy Employee profile and companies can demand lower Group premia from Insurance companies – what say ?
— Siddharth Banerjee (@sidbanerjee13) January 19, 2018
In conclusion, our results from the chat found that everyone gets inspired by talking about physical wellness because it dominates other aspects of our lives, primarily happiness and success. Want to get your employees to do better and remain with you for a longer time? Start physical wellness routines that pivot on constant assessments and positive reinforcement. As Siddharth said, “If the world can appreciate Internet of Things, I am sure corporates would appreciate the interconnectedness of our bodies!”
The above blog is by Shweta Sharan
Image Credit : Pixabay
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