Remote workforces don’t need to be out of reach for well-being
Employers around the world have spent the past few months wrestling with the same question: How do you engage employees in well-being when remote work is a fact of life?
The massive shift to remote work made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic has created an interesting challenge for promoting well-being, but it’s not entirely unique. While we’ve never seen remote work on this scale, there have long been employers with widely dispersed employee bases.
One such company approached Alyfe for help engaging employees in well-being when half of employees work outside of the office, and many of those travel extensively, work long shifts, and do demanding physical labor. That all added up to high levels of stress, and while the company had a rich well-being program with well-designed incentives, the way it was implemented left many feeling like well-being was more burden than benefit.
Alyfe worked with this client on a long-term strategic plan that shifted its culture to reflect employees’ needs and work routines. We focused on creating well-being through engagement opportunities that fit employees’ demanding schedules. All new-hires now receive an introduction to the well-being program, and employees who spend significant time on the road receive a “lunch box” with healthy meal ideas. Health screenings take place during safety meetings, and all employees receive a Fitbit to encourage them to move more.
The goal was to improve job satisfaction by creating a culture where employees wanted to participate in well-being activities, and with grass-roots support and encouragement from leadership, the company has seen an 8% increase in biometric screening participation, 110% increase in completion of coaching to earn an incentive, and an 11% decrease in stress as a risk factor.
Employees are starting to return to the office in many parts of the country, but some may never go back. With remote work expected to continue growing in a post-COVID world, creating a culture that engages employees wherever they work will be essential for any well-being initiative. To read the full client case study, click here.