GreatCall is a company providing health and safety products and services to older adults and caregivers. From a people perspective, this means having a workforce that's not only engaged, but healthy enough to meet the needs of their customers, who rely on them 24/7.
With a health-focused culture, but having no budget and no physical space for wellbeing activities, Lynn Herrick, Chief HR Officer, knew she had a challenge. However, inspired by a Gloria Steinem talk about how small changes can make a big impact, Herrick set out to begin the company's wellbeing journey by making small but powerful steps, proving the importance of taking that first step if you want to make a difference.
The Play
The first step for GreatCall's wellbeing program was offering free on-site yoga classes. Sounds easy - but it isn't if you don't have space. That didn't stop them; they just did yoga in between cubicles. This sent a clear message to employees that the company wanted to make wellbeing accessible by bringing it into the workplace.
According to Herrick, "If you want to show your employees that you're serious about supporting their wellbeing, you need to find ways to bring it into the workplace. We believe that many wouldn't have had the time or commitment if they had to do it outside working hours."
If you want to show your employees that you're serious about supporting their wellbeing, you need to find ways to bring it into your the workplace.
The next steps involved adding other exercise classes, as well as a wide range of initiatives focusing on mental health and financial wellbeing. Complementing these was the introduction of "meaningful days," aligning with GreatCall's mission statement: "meaningful work and living a meaningful life." These days allowed employees to take one paid day off each month to do something personally meaningful to them, thus defining wellbeing in their own ways.
These small steps added up to a comprehensive and successful wellbeing program that received fantastic employee feedback and positive business results. Since the program has been in place, GreatCall has enjoyed a more collaborative working environment, breaking down barriers as employees from all areas exercise side by side. According to CEO David Inns, the program create a "culture of motivation," with employees at all levels being motivated to get out from behind their desks and interact with each other on a personal level. According to Herrick, it's also made recruitment easier, has reduced turnover and given the company its most successful three years since the program has been in place. Don't let challenges or barriers prevent you from creating wellbeing programs. You can overcome those by taking small but meaningful steps.
In Practice
