Incorporating Employee Wellness into EHS Programs

At the beginning of the year, we hosted a webinar titled Workplace Health and Safety 2025: Employee Wellness and over 1,500 of you registered to attend live and/or watch the recording. If you missed the webinar, you can view the recording and access resources and a worksheet to help you evaluate and incorporate employee wellness initiatives at your workplace.

The concept of employee wellness isn’t new, nor is workplace health and safety. But the expanded view of traditional worker safety to encompass more than physical hazards, (like machinery safety, chemical exposure, and ergonomics), is newer. Total Worker Health, published on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) website, is an approach to workplace health and safety that “brings together all aspects of work in integrated interventions that collectively address worker safety, health, and well-being”.

In the webinar presentation, the speakers challenged the attendees to not only evaluate their own employee wellness initiatives but identify a few new ones to start implementing this year. We also encouraged attendees to share what initiatives they have seen at their workplaces that have been successful. The feedback was impressive, and we’d like to share these best practices.

Below are the suggestions for employee wellness initiatives from your colleagues from across the country, and a few international as well:

** There were many more suggestions than the number listed below, these have been grouped by theme and edited for readability**

Health Fairs: Many of you mentioned doing fairs every year. Creative names, activities, external vendors brought in, some with booths, others providing education and services like free neck massages, smoothies, blood pressure checks, radon home kits, etc. Many fairs are held in spring/summer, and even one in the fall named Well-O-Ween.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)/COPE/Other Response Teams: Many have undergone MHFA training, and it’s offered to workers to take as well. Another workplace uses COPE program (from UCSF) to teach resiliency and coping. Some workplaces have response teams who are trained and can help/respond in case of a crises (physical and mental health, including the impact of experiencing a traumatic event).

CPR/First Aid Training and Certification: Almost all of the attendees have some employees on staff required to be certified in basic first aid. However, many offer it to all employees and some of you have certified trainers who provide it on-site. Some have Stop the Bleed and Naloxone/Narcan training and resources offered in addition to BLS (Basic Life Support).

Learn more about CPR, AED, & First Aid Solutions

Food-Related Activities: Some have cookouts in the summer for lunch for all departments, others provide lunch to staff regularly (free of charge). One attendee shared they do food for the soul and cook every other Monday for employees.

Physical Therapy/Chiropractor/Massage: Either as part of health fairs or a separate activity, bring a chiropractor to the office for education and services, or chair massages in the office for workers. One uses occupational health and an EIP (early intervention program) with onsite physical therapy to help employees recover from illness and injury before they become more serious (part prevention, part treatment).

Fitness Classes/Gym Membership: Either onsite gym or reimbursement (partial or full) for membership at local gyms, and encouraging participation. Another ideas was on-site yoga taught by an employee.

Discounted Tickets/Restaurants: Arrangements with local businesses to provide discounts to employees. A valuable perk of employment!

Internal Podcast: A handful of attendees have a company podcast to share information, connect with leadership, get to know employees/departments, share company values, and provide valuable education and resources related to safety, health, and wellness topics. If you haven’t listened to Jill James’ podcast, The Accidental Safety Pro, give it a listen and share your thoughts with us.

Listen to the Podcast

Benefits Packages: Many attendees highlighted their company’s benefits package; generous 401K, health insurance, built in PTO days for mental health, access to apps like Calm, rewards (monetary and otherwise) for preventative health activities (through health insurance provider), on-site flu shot clinic, and even plans for a childcare center on-site for workers.

Communication with Senior Leadership: Coffee with the CEO and/or an anonymous form to ask CEO anything. Any ways you can encourage safe and meaningful communication between workers and upper management creates a more engaged workforce and stronger workplace.

Newsletters: Many have newsletters of various types that address wellness topics, often emailed to workers on a regular schedule. However good old-fashioned print and distribute or post in common areas works well too!

General Communication: There are several other ways to communicate wellness topics and resources to workers. Messages on the back of bathroom doors, guest speakers, webinars, hanging boards around the workplace with information and messages. You can even place messages in areas with specific hazards and safety information. Try creating a knowledge corner for managers and workers to share information and safety tips.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Many have EAPs to confidentially help employees with mental health, substance use, and other personal issues. Some have access to a mental health hotline to speak to a licensed clinician.

Wellness/Safety Calendar: Published calendar of events and activities hosted by a committee to promote safety and wellness, some are published annually, others quarterly.

Destress/Meditation Room: Designated area at work for workers to take a break, classical music, comfortable furniture, take a 15 minute rejuvenation break and come back ready to work better than before. Also promoting safe spaces at work.

As a special treat, we’ve included a video demonstrating diaphragmatic breathing that was created by Jill James, HSI Chief Safety Officer and one of the webinar presenters.

Caring for the Caregiver Program: Support for employees who are caregivers (of family members, etc.).

Employee Recognition Programs: Beyond length of service recognitions, there are many ways to add recognition to your workplace. To name a few, (from SHRM.org):

• The ability to manage or champion change
• Innovation
• Systems improvements
• Customer or client retention
• Morale-building
• Talent acquisition and retention
• Market diversification
• Technological advances
• Significant personal development
• Actions that embody the organization's core values

Business Resource Groups: Some have multiple types of BRGs (health and fitness, women, faith, etc.), DEI groups, Women in Environmental Quality and Safety (WIEQS) groups and others. These all serve to network, connect, foster a sense of community, and even some to organize activities that improve morale.

Mentoring: Senior leadership mentoring emerging leaders, support growth and promotion from within the organization.

Team Building Activities: Monthly outdoor clean-up teams, fun competition activities to build camaraderie amongst groups (and win prizes).

Safety Stand-Downs: Having an established safety committee, managers and/or safety professionals who provide ongoing, regular talks and provide information about safety. A few stated you were thinking of expanding this existing program to include other wellness topics.

See Safety Tip Videos

Using Data to Improve Programs: One attendee supported the use of data to review effectiveness of wellness initiatives. They shared that at their workplace, there are different levels of involvement in programs by workers based on wage, race, and other employee groups. They noticed wage category was a factor in usage of health and wellness initiatives and benefits. This data helps to target efforts to engage employees who haven’t been previously and improve effectiveness.

Many of you mentioned yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness practices to help employees calm, center, and focus. We hope this video helps you do just that. Please share with your colleagues and co-workers.

A big thanks to the hundreds of webinar attendees who took the time to share these best practices with us, and all of you!

Looking to level up your employee wellness program with online safety and professional development training? Let HSI help you! Contact us today to get started on building a safer, smarter workforce.