Using Health IT to Enhance Employee Wellness Initiatives

By Devin Partida, Editor-in-Chief, ReHack.com
Twitter: @rehackmagazine

Employee wellness programs have been around for years. They help staff effectively deal with many workplace challenges, and supply them with the necessary tools to prioritize their physical and mental health.

That said, the plans have become even better with the addition of technology. Learn five ways tech can enhance employee wellness programs.

1. Makes it More Readily Available and Promotes Physical Health

One way technology has enhanced employee wellness programs is by making them more readily available. Nowadays, people can access smartphones and fitness watches that promote their physical well-being. These technological innovations have made it easier to stay healthy.

Smart wearables such as fitness watches can track a plethora of metrics like daily steps, calories burned, blood oxygen, stress, heart rate and even sleep quality. Enterprises can provide their workers with these trackers to help motivate them.

The devices could also sync with the tools the organization utilizes. This allows them to provide feedback and can encourage workers to continue with the progress they have made.

2. Makes the Experience More Engaging

Many individuals looking to change their habits and live healthier lives find it difficult to stay motivated. Often, they start strong, but after not seeing results for a while, they throw the towel in. This is where technology can help.

Many modern wellness program solutions offer features that gamify the user’s experience. In other words, it turns exercising into a mini-game. These platforms can have specific fitness challenges and reward systems that make users feel like they are continuously progressing.

The organization can even add a scoreboard to the platform showing employee results. This way, they can see how far their colleagues have come and even compete with them. Doing so can make exercising feel more rewarding and increase the enjoyment factor. It also motivates the user not to give up.

3. Provides Access To Various Health Resources

Technology has enabled companies to create digital libraries employees can access from anywhere. This comes as a much-needed solution because more brands continue to adopt remote working policies. This way, it does not matter where staff are — they can still have access to valuable information to improve their physical well-being.

The same is true for employee assistance programs, which often work hand in hand with wellness initiatives. They allow staff to get continuous support for the difficulties they are experiencing from anywhere. Enterprises can compile different resources in these libraries that are easy to understand and can make a real difference in workers’ lives.

For example, say a company has many staff members who are getting close to retirement that constantly feel anxious about money. It can then include information on stress management and how to put aside 20% of their monthly salary.

Businesses should also motivate staff to use these virtual resources as much as possible. Over time, the libraries can help employees make small lifestyle changes that impact their physical and mental well-being.

4. Creates a More Personalized Experience

With the help of technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, employee wellness programs can offer a more personalized experience. ML can use worker data to supply feedback tailored specifically to that user.

Machine learning can also identify areas they need to pay more attention to, improving the wellness program’s overall quality and experience. All this makes them feel more motivated and supported by the organization.

5. Utilizing Apps That Enhance Mental Health

Another excellent way technology can enhance employee wellness programs is through various apps. Workers often undergo several common issues while on the job, such as feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and even burnt out.

This is where mental wellness apps can help. Several applications are available that can aid people in feeling more relaxed and less worried about situations they cannot control.

Brands can supply their staff with these programs and encourage them to use them when stressed. These apps can enhance an individual’s mood and focusing abilities, and help them improve their overall mental health.

Technology Empowering Employee Wellness Programs

Thanks to technology, employee wellness programs have come a long way. They can offer workers a more engaging experience via gamified features and even provide remote staff with critical support. When businesses embrace everything technology can give, they can make their wellness programs a truly valuable experience for their staff.