The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world forever, including how we work. The sort of support that employees require for keeping themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally fit has transformed, with an increased premium placed on telemedicine, remote care for mental wellness, and even workouts accessible online. As normalcy returns to workplaces, undoubtedly in stages, virtual corporate wellness programs will undoubtedly remain relevant. Regardless of whether corporate HR is trying to tackle the present problem or attempting to build a robust wellness program for the future, it is imperative to consider how employee needs and expectations from corporate wellness programs have been impacted by the pandemic. Some insights are included in the article below.
Image by rottonara
More On-Demand Resources Required in Wellness Programs
According to health experts, local spikes of infection may interfere or even postpone the staged reopening of businesses. The uncertainty of continued business operations can make it difficult for employees to schedule their daily lives, exercise notwithstanding. While it is common for companies to offer gym memberships to their employees, COVID-19 has all but rendered gym memberships irrelevant. The demand may instead be for reimbursements for virtual on-demand workout sessions. Corporate wellness programs can also consider providing simple workout devices to enable employees to work out at home, e.g. dumbbells or resistance bands. Companies must also continue implementing health and safety protocols in the workplace. These include observing social distancing, wearing medical-grade masks such as KN95 disposable face masks or surgical masks, and regular cleaning and disinfection of the workplace. Health and safety protocols will remain to curb the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of employees, clients, customers, and other stakeholders.
Demand for Mental Health Benefits to Be Strong, Predicts Adam K Veron
Generally, corporate wellness programs tend to focus on physical fitness. However, the ongoing pandemic has highlighted the mental health needs of employees. Mental health apps especially have witnessed an increase in downloads as employees look to resolve mental health issues like anxiety, stress, depression, etc. online, observes Adam K Veron. Forward-looking companies will take steps to ensure that their employees can remotely access mental health counseling resources for themselves and their family members.
Continued Dependence on Telemedicine as a Critical Healthcare Resource
Even though the concept of telemedicine is hardly new, it is the restrictions on movement and social distancing brought about by COVID-19that have increased its present popularity. Experts predict that even after we return to normalcy telemedicine will continue to play an important role in the lives of employees. Companies should not rush to dismantle any telemedicine support facilities they may have put into place. The reality of global health is that it is unpredictable. Even after the situation stabilizes, cautious employees may like to avoid hospitals and clinics for non-emergency medical assistance and turn to telemedicine.
Conclusion
According to CNN, corporate wellness programs play an important role in improving the health of employees and their productivity and reduce the overall cost of extending healthcare facilities. The rising cost of healthcare may require companies to cut budgets, thus a well-structured corporate wellness program can help to ease the pressure by making high-cost claims unnecessary with specific interventions before the condition becomes critical.
