Many corporations, large and small, offer wellness programs to help you stay in shape, but what changes might you see in 2017? Experts predict corporate wellness trends for 2017 will include components for mental and spiritual well-being, as well as technology-driven incentives.
“There’s a shift going from the physical health to the total well-being of the employee,” said Robyne Gaudreau, with Viverae, a workplace wellness technology company.
One North Texas company many would say is in front of the trend is Satori Capital, an investment firm with offices in Dallas and Fort Worth.
“Our vision was to have the next generation of corporate wellness. We had, as individuals and leaders, for a number of years, done corporate wellness programs, and we thought there was an opportunity to really build the next generation – corporate wellness 2.0,” said Sunny Vanderbeck, co-founder and managing partner at Satori Capital.
Vanderbeck and his leadership team created what he says is a “whole person approach to well-being,” offering programs, tools and resources to help become healthier in four dimensions: mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. The team of 25 participates in weekly group meditation, journaling, energy rituals, tread desks, walking meetings, health coaching with Larry North and receives nourishing meals (high protein, low carb, organic and “Less-Meat Mondays”) during the workday. They also have access to Satori Sweats, which encourages group fitness as a way to stay active and create connections and a sense of community outside of the office.
“This is not a benefits program. This is something that drives performance at our firm,” Vanderbeck said. “We’re in the investment business, so the more effective and efficient we are, the better decisions we make, the better our business works, so there is a bottom line to all of this. And how wonderful is it to be in the position to help people become the best versions of themselves?” he added.
A healthier employee means a healthier bottom line for companies that offer wellness programs, according to Gaudreau. “Those benefits may include reduced health-care spending in the future. It may include increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and, in fact, recruitment is an advantage as well,” she said.
“Our team doesn’t get sick, doesn’t have issues, so our health-care costs are rising at a rate much lower than other companies,” Vanderbeck said.
Cami Miller, an investor experience analyst at Satori, says the holistic wellness program changes the landscape of “corporate America.”
“I have a photo of me four years ago and a photo of me now, and I look at myself and I don’t even recognize where I was,” Miller said, of her physical fitness. “It’s a seamless transition from my life outside of the office to the office, where my goals are supported and everyone’s talking about it and are holding me accountable. It’s a part of our everyday conversation,” she adds.
Source: North Texas Company Leads the Pack on Corporate Wellness Trends | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth