2022 Resources

• • January: Building Balance

    A new year can signify a fresh start, a ‘shiny’ new you, complete with new goals. But for many, the thought of setting personal or professional goals may feel less than inspiring after the challenges and continued uncertainty of the last two years.

    Instead, encourage your employees to focus on taking stock of the moments, activities and things that enhance their quality of life and shedding those that do not. Suggest some ideas that your team can use to set intentions around practicing kindness and self-care for themselves and others.

    As you navigate the road ahead, rely on these resources to help your employees stay mindful of prioritizing their needs and, of course, make sure you’re implementing these practices yourself.

    View the January Guide

  • February: Whole-Hearted

    Let’s get to the heart of the matter. February signifies the national health observance of heart health. Typically, we focus on the prevention and early detection of heart disease. Why? According to the CDC, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease*; however, heart disease can often be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing heart conditions.

    Take a whole-hearted approach to February by advocating for adopting healthy habits amongst your employees to manage and prevent heart disease while also encouraging your employees to practice actions that make their hearts feel full.

    Review the employer resources to set up your month for success and connect your employees with the educational materials on “heart health”.

    *Centers for Disease Control

    View the February Guide

  • March: Fuel Immunity

    The immune system is our body's most significant natural defense for preventing illness and chronic diseases. And yet, the importance of maintaining a healthy immune system is often overlooked and easily neglected. A weakened immune system can wreak havoc on the body, leading to a decline in daily functioning, increased levels of stress, and the onset of chronic diseases.*Stress, sleep, nutrition, and physical activity are all factors that significantly affect immune health.

    Like cars need fuel to run correctly, bodies must be fueled to maintain optimum functioning. By encouraging employees to optimize immune health and take breaks, you can boost productivity, mental focus and increase the overall wellbeing of your workforce.

    Share the March resources with your employees to provide helpful tips that emphasize the importance of fueling their immune system every day.

    *Centers for Disease Control

    View the March Guide

  • April: Focus on Financial Wellbeing

    Health care costs and saving adequately for retirement are two of the most pressing financial issues employees face today—regardless of income level. Many organizations manage financial and health benefits separately, but health and finances are impossible to separate for employees.

    For employers, offering financial benefits that align with employee needs is critical. 81% of employees are interested in employer support that would improve their overall financial wellbeing, and 75% are more likely to stay with a company that cares about their financial wellbeing.*

    During financial literacy month, put your people first by boosting financial health and providing education around savings, retirement and day-to-day budgeting. The April resources offer the perfect starting point to help you navigate the needs of your workforce across all life stages and financial goals.

    *Voya

    View the April Guide

  • May: Manage Your Mind

    Even before COVID-19 upended life as we know it both on and off the job, workforce mental health has been under pressure. Rates of mental health concerns have been on the rise for decades; however, for many, the ongoing pandemic and surrounding challenges have made the situation much worse.

    Workforce mental health support not only saves money otherwise lost to costly medical and disability claims—and absenteeism and presenteeism—but also could save lives. Employers have an important opportunity to address employee mental health by offering inclusive work environments and providing easy access for employees struggling with mental illness.

    Support your employees during Mental Health Awareness month by utilizing May's helpful resources to help break the stigma surrounding mental health concerns.

    View the May Guide

  • June: Better Together

    Every individual brings unique characteristics and identities to the table. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) initiatives aim to recognize and celebrate all the various ways people show up and come together. Many employers acknowledge that without inclusive, people-centered workplaces, the wellbeing of their employees suffers.

    When employees feel valued, respected and accepted, they perform better and have overall higher levels of wellbeing. Diverse workforces are higher performing; as they benefit from the unique experiences and perspectives of their team, resulting in more creativity and innovation!

    Cultivate an environment that celebrates your employees' differences by tapping into the June resources.

    View the June Guide

  • July: Self-Care Summer

    Physical wellbeing encompasses overall health and energy. This can include the ability to engage in day-to-day activities, prevent and manage diseases and rely on the body’s ability to naturally heal. And while the need to stay physically healthy may be obvious to reduce short and long-term cost drivers for an organization, the connection between physical and mental, or even financial wellbeing, may be less clear.

    Total wellbeing consists of five elements: Physical, Social & Emotional (Mental), Financial, Community and Purpose/Career. When any of the five areas of wellbeing are impacted, it starts a domino effect impacting each of the others. For example, poor financial wellbeing is a significant cause of stress, which can affect physical health and vice versa.

    Share the July resources with your teams to educate on the connection between the five areas of wellbeing to highlight how taking care of one can improve all.

    View the July Guide

  • August: Routine Maintenance

    Everything needs routine maintenance to keep working properly. Cars need oil changes, gutters need cleaning, and technology needs software updates.

    Visiting a primary care doctor at least once a year is a good rule of thumb to check up on health, detect and prevent early illness or disease, and manage chronic conditions.

    Support your employees by sharing the August resources and encouraging them to maximize their healthcare plan.

    View the August Guide

  • September: Reactivate Your Mental + Physical Resiliency

    September marks the beginning of fall, bringing more colors to our trees, cooler days, and, unfortunately - flu season. A flu outbreak in your workplace can result in increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and ultimately lead to higher healthcare costs. Employees thriving across the wellbeing spectrum heal faster, are more resilient and miss 41% less work attributed to poor overall health.

    While businesses cannot control employees getting sick, you can encourage preventative care to reduce the number of illnesses spread and educate your employees on best practices to stay healthy. As an employer, you can also empower employees to be financially prepared for illness-related medical expenses, which can cause financial stress, exacerbating physical and mental illnesses.

    Utilize the September resources to help boost the resiliency of your workforce to decrease the impact of illness this flu season and position your organization to thrive.

    View the September Guide

  • October: Overcoming Obstacles and Removing Barriers to Preventive Screenings

    The pandemic led to a significant decrease in preventive care access and greatly impacted cancer screening, with millions missing out on regular care.* But even before the pandemic, several factors stood in the way of individuals seeking medical screenings.

    Lack of information about the process, including costs, the time required, and accessibility, coupled with fear of discomfort during the examination and anxiety around a negative result, are key reasons your employees may skip screenings.

    Access the October resources to aid in understanding the barriers and motivating factors for delaying screenings to ensure you offer the right interventions, making a real difference in how you support your people and business.

    *American Cancer Society

    View the October Guide

  • November: Take It 2 Heart - Diabetes Awareness Month

    78% of benefits professionals report that helping employees maintain their health and wellbeing has become a higher priority since 2020.* Employers like you have begun taking a whole-person approach to supporting people and businesses by acknowledging that internal and external factors play a significant role in a person’s ability to succeed at work. Employees bring their whole selves to work-- often managing chronic health symptoms, mental health, interpersonal relationships, and financial wellbeing.

    As employee healthcare, wellness, and workplace benefits continue to converge during a time of record-setting inflation, it is critical for employers like you to consider how your organization supports employee total health and financial wellbeing. With consumer buying power at an unprecedented low, employees are expecting more from their healthcare spending and are looking at their employers to provide creative solutions to help.

    During Diabetes Awareness Month, employ a whole-person approach to support your workforce, accelerate team success, and achieve organizational goals.

    *HR Executive

    View the November Guide

  • December: Building Balance

    December marks the last month of the year, often bringing excitement around holidays and hopes for a prosperous new year. However, the end of the year can also be incredibly stressful for many employees. Nearly half of the workforce in the US is experiencing stress during the workday, which impacts mental health and day-to-day functioning.

    New stressors, altered schedules, changes in work and financial concerns can leave employees looking for an outlet to cope with stress in the form of substance use. Employee substance misuse can affect productivity, workplace safety, and healthcare costs. As an employer, you have an opportunity to decrease the financial and social burden of substance misuse. In turn, you'll increase employee wellbeing by promoting prevention and providing access to treatment for recovery.

    Remind your employees to build balance in December by setting healthy boundaries, recognizing and responding to their stressors and prioritizing overall health and wellbeing.

    View the December Guide