Wellness isn’t limited to the workplace. That’s why our Workplace Wellness Programs extend beyond employees that work within our client organizations.

We believe a successful wellness program includes families. Families and loved ones often influence each other’s lifestyle choices; they shape who we are, how we behave and even what we eat and drink. Families can act as a support system for employees looking to make positive lifestyle changes. When families participate, healthy practices are more likely to become ingrained in daily life. Children also model behaviour and by observing parents’ choices, a potential ripple effect can occur.

When families participate, employees feel more accountable for their health goals, leading to better adherence to wellness programs. And healthier families not only lead to improved work morale and productivity, but ultimately will positively impact population health.

Research finds that when one partner changes to a healthier behaviour, the other partner is more likely to also make a positive behaviour change. For example, a 2015 study found that 67% of men were likely to become more active if their spouse also became active. But without their spouse’s influence, only 26% of men made that positive change.

We reach out to families through multiple ways, whether it is providing one-on-one health coaching, participating in the organization’s Family Days, or through our education programs. For example, our wellness newsletters written for active and retired employees and their families are very popular — so much so that 93-year-old Marie Blinn has kept years-worth of them in a folder.

Marie says she enjoys the recipes and healthy eating tips. Her late husband Joseph worked for a mining company in Sudbury from 1950 to 1980. Despite him passing away in 2009, Marie is still part of our family and receives our wellness newsletters.

Wellness newsletters are mailed quarterly to families and contain information on various aspects of well-being, health and self-care and offer readers articles, tips, recipes, exercises and other content aimed at promoting physical, mental and emotional wellness.

Overall, integrating families into workplace wellness programs can enhance the effectiveness of the programs and contribute to a healthier and more engaged workforce.

Interested in learning more about how your employees’ families can benefit from a workplace wellness program? Contact us at coach@mediwell.ca.

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