How it works

As one saying goes, “We hired employees, but people came to work.” In other words, team members are not just a contribution of skills; they bring complexity and nuance to the workforce. As our understanding of emotional and physical health integration has increased, so has the complexity of creating a thriving and productive organization. Some examples of the symbiotic nature of worker wellness include:

• A PWC report shows that over half of workers with financial stress or money worries experienced sleep issues, lowered self-esteem, and mental health concerns.
  
  
• People who experience mental health issues, including work-related burnout, are less likely to care for their own physical needs, putting their health at risk.
  
  
• Research shows that workplaces without psychological safety have increased worker injuries.
  
  

As a result of this understanding, workplace wellness has expanded to a more comprehensive view of worker needs in recent years. “Total Worker Health” is a term coined by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and is defined as the “policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness-prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.”