March 2011 – Corporate wellness, or as some know it, workplace wellness, has become a buzz word in many developed and developing countries. StratMark believes that global hubs are ideally situated to learn from the research and implement effective and sustainable wellness strategies.
Companies around the world have different ideas about workplace wellness. It is common for companies to think that staff will automatically be happy if they are well paid. A few companies will go a little further and provide basic screenings and may even include health club membership or crèche facilities. Are these isolated initiatives enough, and will they bring the desired results? Maybe, but on the whole, these initiatives only touch the surface of the broader workplace wellness debate.
The type of strategy that StratMark suggests is a more holistic and sustainable one. They believe that only when you provide ongoing, easily implemented, and appropriate programs will you see the benefits. Focused on eight dimensions of personal wellness, StratMark takes each companies’ people, business, and culture into consideration to build a customized wellness program.
CEO of StratMark Hong Kong, Mr. Darren Brews, states: “The single most important asset in any business is its people. If your people lead balanced lifestyles that are fully supported and driven by the companies they work for, it stands to reason that they will be more energized, loyal, and willing to go the extra mile. People know when they are truly cared for versus when ad hoc strategies are implemented for short term gains. We are looking to the future, and we can see a healthier and happier workplace is in sight.”
It may take a while for companies in the Asian environment to realize the fundamental necessity of ensuring your people have well-balanced lifestyles. For those companies who do it sooner rather than later, the benefits will undoubtedly outweigh the cost. It’s a small change in a corporate culture that can have a life-changing effect on all that are touched by it.
Workplace Wellness programs are implemented in consultation with StratAlign – a well established boutique management consulting firm based in South Africa.
Darren Brews 