There has been an evolution in workplace wellness, says Michael Monsod, director of operations – wellness for Esadore International. In an exclusive Thought Leader column for Spa Opportunities, Monsod explores how spas can take an active role in corporate wellbeing.

Wellness in the workplace, by Michael Monsod

Whether it’s a long commute, a never-ending to-do list, worries about job loss or global conflict, stress levels are at an all-time high. Not to mention the fact that over half of the world’s 3.4 billion workers are overweight or obese!

According to the Global Wellness Institute, only nine per cent of these workers have access to some sort of wellness programme at work. This has got to change.

A happy worker is a productive worker – this cannot be denied, and now more than ever, wellness in the workplace is a hot topic.

There has been an evolution in workplace wellness. Back in the day when there were more blue collar workers, efforts to create healthy workplaces focused only on safety at the worksite and injury prevention.

Today, more companies are recognising the need for wellness programmes that are designed to assist employees to choose healthier lifestyles, including being physically active, quitting smoking, eating healthier and making time for relaxation.

Fast-paced, high-stress jobs and increasingly competitive work environments have led to an increase in burnout among staff, higher medical costs and low productivity.

Larger companies, including Boeing with its “Industrial Athlete Program” and Google with its 35 in-house massage therapists, have recognised the need of the hour, and are taking action to address the physical and mental wellbeing of their employees.

This is where spas can take an active role in corporate wellbeing. Companies are starting to take advantage of spas in their vicinity by incentivising employees with massage or spa experiences to improve their productivity and motivate them to work at their optimum level. A spa day out is also becoming extremely popular as a team-building exercise.

The growth in this consciousness provides a fabulous opportunity to educate. At Esadore international and Nine Degrees Spa, we strive to bridge the gap by reaching out to companies in our respective communities with specific programmes, offers and discounts for employees, as well as corporate rates to make our services and facilities more accessible to their staff.