Engaging Michigan employees in wellness. 

It sounds like an easy and important concept, but unfortunately, caring for our employees' health is not as widespread an endeavor as it should be. 

As a Michigan-based comapny -- we take interest in Michigan employees' health.  In November 2013, Crain's Detroit Business quoted Rod Reason, CEO of Healthiest Employers LL stating, “We are spending $2 Billion to affect $5 million people, and we are not changing things.”  In other words, the intention to engage our employees in their own health exists, but there is not enough movement, engagement, or progress in providing our employees with exceptional wellness programs.  

Michigan is in the greatest need for engaging wellness in the workplace. 

Unfortunately, Michigan residents face many health challenges such as high rates of obesity and chronic illnesses.  Local companies need to address these issues head-on in order to maintain healthy work environments and encourage healthy lifestyles for its workforce.  One option recommended by Priority Health is to offer online health risk assessments and provide high-risk employees with health coaching and preventative screenings.  Other options include providing fitness programs on-site, discounts to local fitness centers, and nutritious options in cafeterias and vending machines.

3Leaf Group is joining Michigan's leading companies in promoting health and wellness, and in fact – has been doing so for years.

3LG has been providing companies with health and wellness audiobook titles for their employees via our audiobook rental library.  Like Netflix, employees subscribe to an online rental program, and choose audiobook titles on health, nutrition, fitness, work-life balance, and overall wellness.  Users listen to audiobooks on their own time in any location – at their desk, at home, or while exercising.  The audiobook program provides employees with invaluable health resources and the luxury of listening to the materials on their own time.

There is no arguing that healthy employees are more productive employees.  In fact, Priority Health data shows that after providing online health assessments and wellness coaching in local companies, there was a 60% decline in the number of “high-risk” employees – thereby lowering employers' costs by $6,000 per employee.  Less sick days, less turnover, more engagement, more productivity.  That's what healthy employees give to their employers.

3LG is proud to partake in this endeavor of engaging employees in wellness.  Our goal is to help employers guide their employees in achieving a healthy lifestyle at home and at work -- and doing so in a convenient, and enjoyable way – with audiobook in hand.  

It's 2014 - Is your company going through change?

Linked In's Top 10 Predictions for Training in 2014 involve a good amount of modifications -- like watching talent and specialized needs go global, focusing on a “holistic” work experience rather than plain “engagement”, taking talent mobility and mobile career development seriously, among other major trends. 

But once you've accepted the need to change – how do you successfully implement the changes in a streamlined fashion?

In short, executives must not only express the desire to change and move forward with every task, meeting, and project they put forth – but they must also provide the resources, budget, and support to make a successful change possible.  In other words – If you're going to implement changes – go ALL the way, EVERY day.  Make the change your top priority and make sure all employees understand the expectations and details concerning these changes.

A recent article in LaMarsh Global highlights common questions executives who are implementing changes may be asking themselves.  These points stand as excellent guidelines on how to achieve a smooth, successful change within your company.  

Want to make change happen?  Here's what you need to do…

•  Ensure everyone has the same understanding and interpretation of the company's future desired state
• Make certain the organization understands the priority of the change
• Convince the organization the change is necessary and important to the future
• Decide and communicate the positive and negative consequences of deciding to change or not to change
• Provide the resources and budget to make success possible
• Accept responsibility as the ultimate individual accountable for successful change or failure

Make it clear.  Make it consistent.  Make it happen. 

That's how to successfully make changes in 2014. 

If you're looking to boost performance and creativity in your company, the last thing you need is a hostile work environment.  Having employees be civil, cordial, even nice to eachother is a sure way to get things accomplished and accomplished well. 

The Wall Street Journal recently published a few pointers for keeping the peace in the office – according to Christine Porath of Georgetown's McDonough School of Business. 

Firstly, Porath mentions the 10/5 Rule.  In the presence of co-workers:  Within 10 feet, acknowledge the person, and within 5 feet say hello.  That means no running in the opposite direction, not walking with your phone in front of your face, and not completely ignoring the person you pass.  Yes, saying hello to collegeaues and flashing a smile are the latest bullet points on employees' to do lists.

Porath's other pointers include addressing performance or other issues in private, and avoiding criticizing people behind their backs.  It's best for managers to never say or write anything they wouldn't be proud to sign.

Respecting privacy is common knowledge.  But saying hello and acknowledging other employees – may seem like such a simple task, it gets overlooked.  According to a study by Georgetown University and Thunderbird School of Global Management of almost 3,000 participants, 50% of workers felt they were treated rudely at least once a week in 2011.  Public relations firms in 2013 concluded that 26% of employees who believe they are treated uncivilly leave their jobs to find work elsewhere.  

Can you believe smiling at someone could promote job retention?  It's true. 

So brighten those pearly whites, lift up your head – and flash a smile, a hello, or a simple wave to your fellow co-workers.  It'll make both your days. 

On the heels of our last post -

Check out this great article from Training Industry (today's leading resource pool for the training community) about motivation in the workplace and effective employee recognition plans...