Harnessing Wellness As A Founder Could Drive Wellness For Your Team

Harnessing Wellness As A Founder Could Drive Wellness For Your Team

Jose Herrera, CEO & cofounder, Hire Horatio CX.

In 2024, the term “wellness” can imply a variety of things. When it comes to employee wellness, we often refer to both mental and physical health. As stigmas are broken around mental wellness and our culture shifts to place physical health as a bigger priority, policies in the workplace and our government are adjusting as well.

In fact, in October 2022, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, released the office’s first-ever Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being. As the initiative states, “The COVID-19 pandemic brought the relationship between work and well-being into clearer focus.”

A 2021 report from Mind Share Partners found that 84% of respondents said their workplace conditions had contributed to at least one mental health challenge (download required). Workplace leaders who prioritize their employees’ health (and their own) will often try and avoid this at all costs.

Not only is prioritizing employee health good for overall sentiment, but it can impact business performance as well. The simple logic is that when you feel well, you do well.

At my company, Horatio, we have made the employee experience the center of our focus and our team’s wellness—both mental and physical are equally fundamental and supported by things like on-site mental health counselors and an immersive gym and running track that spans our office. As our society continues to move at a rapid pace and workloads increase, here are a few tips that founders can take on for themselves, and extend to their employees as well:

Support mental health rigorously and routinely.

The American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America Survey confirmed that psychological well-being is a very high priority for workers. Specifically, “92% of workers said it is very (57%) or somewhat (35%) important to them to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological well-being.” Moreover, 92% also said “it is very (52%) or somewhat (40%) important to them to work for an organization that provides support for employee mental health.”

Forward-thinking organizations and founders can make it part of the culture to not only acknowledge mental health, but break stigmas around addressing it at work. Organizations can also offer benefits to seek therapy outside of work and even on-site.

I’ve found that leaders who model their own mental health practices and emphasize things like work-life balance are more apt to create a culture of excellence when it comes to mental health practices. Leaders who respect the boundaries between work and non-work time show firsthand that they respect their workers’ mental health, and they recognize that these boundaries are necessary for career stability.

Sadly, many founders struggle with mental health themselves and are not able to foster a broader scope for their team. A 2015 study found that 72% of entrepreneurs reported mental health concerns. Establishing a support system in place at work and off-site is critical for founders, and thereby their teams. Also, routinely taking breaks during work is key.

As a founder, make sure your team sees work-life balance firsthand. I also recommend to embrace and create both big and small moments of joy throughout the day for yourself and your team members.

Make physical health a priority too.

One way to support your team’s mental health is through making physical health a cornerstone of your company’s culture. When thinking about wellness, it is easy to only think about the more tangible benefits of physical activity, such as weight-loss or better heart health. But in fact, “physical activity can help you think, learn, problem-solve, and enjoy an emotional balance. It can improve memory and reduce anxiety or depression,” as noted by the CDC.

Pioneering companies and founders will take this information and make actionable changes for their team. This can be as simple as having an on-site gym that you encourage employees to use as often as they can. Or this might mean incentivizing your team to work out together through outings and special events. The feeling of empowerment often accompanies physical activity.

As a founder, empowerment can go with the territory, but I’ve found that extending this feeling to your team at large can have a great impact on overall sentiment. Empower employees to take control of their physical health by encouraging physical activity breaks or leading morning or afternoon walks.

Consider hiring special on-site practitioners or trainers to come in regularly. Or if you work remotely, suggest a communal workout virtually. You may find your health and energy levels improve, and you and your team are more equipped to face the day-to-day challenges at work.

In my experience, a founder’s own personal wellness journey can have a domino effect on their entire organization. Ultimately, prioritizing your own well-being as a leader could impact your employees productivity, performance and overall morale. In creating time, space and unique opportunities for your organization to acknowledge and celebrate mental and physical well-being, you can create a stronger and more resilient workplace.

According to 2021 research from Gallup, only one in four U.S. employees strongly agree that their organization cares about their overall well-being. In order to be in that one quarter of companies, it is up to founders to prioritize communal wellness. Their own journeys can be intrinsically linked to the health and success of all team members.

The information provided here is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for advice concerning your specific situation.


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