Over the course of my medical career, I’ve seen the toll that stress can take on every facet of our lives.

After working in emergency rooms and intensive care units early in my career, I became more and more interested in what we could do to prevent some of these problems in the first place. That led me to occupational medicine, working to help people in intense jobs better manage their stress, from firefighters and armed forces members to my fellow physicians and executives in high-stakes positions. As I’ve built a career on championing preventative wellness in all aspects of life, I’ve only seen the need become more important in the corporate world.

Today, some of the burnout I’ve seen is apparent even in fields and jobs that traditionally may not be considered high stress. Increasingly, I’m seeing business leaders in organizations of all sizes contend with stressed out employees – and the consequences that come with it. The pandemic has unquestionably accelerated wellness challenges the corporate world was already facing. We’ve been living with greater risks of serious illness, coping with physical and social distancing and in many cases, adjusting to new ways of working. All of that has taken a toll on our well-being.

Combined with that – and maybe because of it – employers are struggling with retention and what the “Great Resignation” trend might mean for their businesses. While there are numerous reasons and nuances behind why people may be leaving their workplaces, showing you value your employees’ wellness is more important than ever.

As organizational leaders look ahead at what work will be like post pandemic, employee wellness in all forms must factor into the plan. Giving employees the tools that they need to take care of their well-being shouldn’t be a perk – it should be the status quo and a fundamental to how you operate. Not only will it support your business, but it’s the right thing to do for your employees and your communities.

While we’re seeing significant health and well-being challenges in the COVID era, the positive news is that there’s also a renewed interest in public health and an appreciation for wellness that is long overdue. Employers have already been taking notice, which is encouraging. A report from Aon earlier this year, for example, found that most employers expressed the need to rethink their mental wellbeing and virtual care benefits for employees.

Many employers already recognize that prioritizing employee wellness and lifestyle benefits is smart for the bottom line. Mental health illness alone costs Canadian businesses $6 billion a year in lost productivity. That’d be astounding on its own, but that was also before the pandemic – when mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression, are now on the rise – and doesn’t include the impact of physical illness.

On the flip side, research has shown that strategies to improve well-being and preventative health help create more vibrant workplaces, better morale, fewer sick days and higher productivity. When it comes down to it,

”How a person feels about their happiness and satisfaction with life, emotionally, physically, and psychologically, is important for individuals, workplaces, and our society more broadly.”

So, what can employers be doing better?

In my mind, it goes beyond simply promoting wellness to actively empower employees with tangible services they can use to live their best lives. Physicians and medical professionals have always struggled with getting patients to take the actions they know they should. People don’t always do what’s good for them, even when they know it’s the right thing to do. Take exercise – only about 15 per cent of people exercise the recommended amount.

That was one of the central ideas behind our team creating EOV Wellness Project. It’s a personalized wellness plan that provides research-based, practical advice, at an accessible price through immersive virtual modules, which include videos and reflections. Crucially, it’s about wellness in all areas, not just physical health. We take a comprehensive approach that helps to improve all aspects of life, from sleep to finances to fitness – plus strengthen ties to community.

We knew we needed to make it easier for people to work wellness into their everyday lives, in a tangible way. Our program provides the building blocks to create your own action plan that makes sense for your needs and the steps you need to take right now. Each video in EOV Wellness Project ends prompting the employees take actionable steps for their well-being, whether that’s changing their sleep habits or their approach to money. In a way, it’s almost like providing a prescription after an appointment – an actionable step that makes it easier to know you’re doing something good for yourself.

By giving employees access to this kind of service, employers can not only promote well-being, but actively empower it. And as more do, we’ll all be able to weather any storms to come more successfully.

If your employees could benefit from a comprehensive wellness program, I encourage you to visit our website [URL] and sign up for a 30-day free trial, which will give you access to our program introduction video and one the eight chapters of the program.