Worksite Wellness and the Pandemic of 2020
Pivot — Awaken — Reset
The workplace has drastically changed — literally overnight. Businesses have been closed by the government, businesses have been closed that will never reopen and businesses with employees who can work from home (because their communities have broadband Internet access) are now working from home. This all means that the way worksite wellness is delivered will need to adapt.
I would suggest a three pronged adaption: Pivot, Awaken and Reset.
Pivot — No matter what your current annual worksite wellness operating plan says, worksite wellness programs need to start asking what do employees need right now and how do we best deliver? I would suggest two areas: crisis management and emotional support.
Awaken — Now is a great time for the worksite wellness programs, and the field and community as a whole, to step back and do some honest reflection. What have we done that has truly worked? How do we know it has worked? What have we done that has not worked but we are still doing? How do we know it hasn’t worked? What do we need to differently right now? How do we know that this is what we should be doing? What do we need to do differently when we come out of the current state of panic and fear? What do we do more of or how do we do it differently? As we get a clearer picture of what the future might look like, how do we things differently? Now is the time to ask and answer these questions.
Reset — This time is a great time to set a new vision for worksite wellness. It is a time to reset our strategies and tactics to be ready when the pandemic crisis passes, which, of course, it will. A new normal will emerge at some point. This new normal will be a great opportunity to launch a new vision of worksite wellness. This new vision will be a vision of worksite wellness which actually delivers on its promises for both employers and employees.
©2020. William McPeck. All Rights Reserved.
