Connecting your global workforce through health programmes
Globalisation and technology have shrunk borders and aligned cultures, creating a ‘global village’ where the same trends in health are emerging on an international level.
Research shows that there is a direct correlation between the complexity of business operations and the presence of a comprehensive workplace health strategy, with medium to large organisations more likely to offer a wellbeing program than their smaller counterparts.
While in theory most forward-thinking organisations now understand that their staff’s health feeds directly into their bottom line, the practice of rolling out a wellbeing offering across borders, time zones and cultures is much more complex.
How do you translate and deliver marketing materials to your non-English speaking offices and involve them in your plan? Will engagement drop if you roll out a standard program in English? How do exchange rates and currencies affect your invoicing and budget procedures?
Think global, act local
The fact that poor health affects business outcomes is a global truth, but the specific reasons why an organisation implements a wellbeing program differ from border to border.
For example, if you are in the United States, where 63 per cent of American adults are overweight or obese1 and where economic imperatives drive employers’ interest in their people’s health, human resource initiatives are an established and accepted part of work culture.
However, if you are in Singapore, the workplace wellbeing market is an emerging area of interest. Your staff will already have access to an efficient universal healthcare system, but often work in a highly compartmentalised corporate environment. They are accustomed to longer hours than their overseas counterparts in Australia or Continental Europe and their fatigue and mental health may be of greater concern than their body mass index (BMI) figure.
With the right employee health and performance partner on board, you can save yourself a lot of research and risky guesswork and go in with a solid understanding of what each region might want from a global wellbeing program.
Offering a wellbeing initiative to a global community of employees is a statement of intent as well as a business imperative; it demonstrates that your organisation is committed to its staff and shows that the company is aligned with the global trend towards sustainable business practices. Taking your initiative to an international level may seem daunting but applying the correct planning and expertise will elevate the quality of your wellbeing offering, turning it into an investment that feeds back into your overall business strategy.
For more resources on connecting your global workforce through health initiatives, visit the Virgin Pulse website.
This article is provided by Virgin Pulse.
Reference
1. Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. [Internet] 1 January – 19 May 2014
In partnership with Virgin Pulse Inc
Our wellbeing solutions help your employees create habits that matter.
