Finding ways to invest in your business is always a good idea. One of the best avenues: your employees.

Your employees are the ones running your business day after day. They help you get over the hurdles of growing your business and lift you to success — big and small. So, investing in their professional and personal growth is just one way to show your appreciation for their hard work.

A great way to invest in your employees? Wellness programs.

A wellness program is an initiative that provides health and fitness options to your employees and offers different resources to help them improve their physical and mental wellbeing. A company wellness program might include a gym membership or provide classes and resources to help employees deal with stress.

In a recent episode of Organize Chaos, Trainual CEO Chris Ronzio had the chance to speak with Nicole Wolfe, the former vice president of corporate partnerships at ClassPass.

Nicole is incredibly passionate about wellness programs. She has consulted Fortune 500 companies in designing their company programs, and joined ClassPass to create their corporate wellness program, which is offered in 27 markets and has over 2,000 partners.

Chris and Nicole talked about the various ways a wellness program can improve your business. Here are some of the reasons you should consider developing a wellness program at your business:

It sets the tone for your business’s culture

Creating a wellness program communicates that you value your employees are looking out for the well-being. It’s a move that will can establish a company culture that puts health and employee wellness first.

Nicole suggests surveying your employees to see what areas of wellness would interest them. Some may want to prioritize their physical health, while others know their mental health is vital to them. You might even learn about an issue that you didn’t know affected your workers. 

Focusing on your employees’ wellbeing and tailoring programs to their needs will create an environment where your employees feel taken care of. A place where they know they matter to you and the business.

Creating a wellness program will also show people outside the company that your business invests in your employees. It’s a decision that screams “my team's wellbeing matters here.”

It can help you retain employees and attract new talent

When you have happy and healthy employees, they tend to want to stick around.

“If your employer has some investment in you, you’re more committed to them.”
<blockquoteauthor>Nicole Wolfe, former VP of Corporate Partnerships at ClassPass<blockquoteauthor>

Surveys show that that wellness programs help retain employees — including those who don’t participate. Nicole has seen this first hand. When businesses incorporate wellness programs, employee loyalty goes up.

Meaning, you get to worry less about turnover. Instead of having to bring on new people and dedicate time to training, you can rest easy knowing that your people are more likely to stick around.

Starting a wellness program is one step to building a great culture that can help you retain employees. Plus, when you’re ready to go out and hire someone new, you now have one more thing to boast about.

According to Nicole, 91% of potential employees expect companies to have a wellness program of some kind. Applicants these days expect companies to have some investment in them. Experienced talent will always be attracted to a company where they will be valued. So, list your wellness programs on your job postings. Show applicants that they will be cared for at your company.

Doing so will help attract great talent and set you apart from other small businesses that might not have their own wellness program.

It's possible for any size company on any budget

You might be wondering if it’s really possible for a small business to invest in wellness programs. The short answer: yes.

“I’ve worked with companies in all shapes, sizes, locations, demographics, and there’s absolutely no reason why a company should not be investing in this,” Nicole said.

Small companies can have great wellness programs — there are plenty of options out there for all kinds of budgets. Nicole suggests starting with your company’s current insurance provider and seeing if they provide wellness programs. Sometimes they have benefits that you may not know about.

If full gym memberships are outside your budget, create your own events. Plan optional get-togethers where you can do physical activities as a team, like hiking or visiting a rock climbing center. You can also host yoga or meditation sessions online with Zoom. Even giving out something as simple as a gift card to a spa or gym can help your employees feel appreciated.

Showing your employees that you want to invest in them will do wonders for their motivation and loyalty. You’ll have happier and healthier employees who are as committed to your business as you are to their wellbeing.