Employee Appreciation Day is March 5th and is a great opportunity to show appreciation for employees. For those returning to the office in person, the risks they are taking during the pandemic need to be acknowledged and employers need to ensure employees feel safe in their workplace. For employees who are working from home, there are no more “office perks” that benefit or enhance the employee experience, so it is important for employers to find creative ways to show appreciation for their staff’s hard work and effort throughout the year. Making adjustments like moving certain office perks, like a fitness class to Zoom, can go a long way in strengthening the relationship between the employer and employee.
It may be a new year, but that hasn’t erased the employee burnout or safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether a business is operating remotely or managing under new safety protocols to bring back an in-person workforce, employee absenteeism remains a costly challenge to employers.
Heart disease remains the #1 cause of death in the United States and creates an enormous burden for people, communities, and healthcare providers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, which is 1 in every 4 deaths (Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, 2020).
At the beginning of a new year, Medicaid and Medicare payers and accountable care organizations (ACOs) strategize about how to get members to schedule and attend their preventive care appointments and annual health screenings. Due to employment commitments, lack of transportation, fear of contracting COVID-19, and even lack of education on the importance of annual screenings, many members need to be incentivized to schedule and attend annual screenings and preventive care check-ups.
As the new year begins and the pandemic heightens, encouraging employees to set New Year’s resolutions both personally and professionally will help them achieve a better state of mental and physical health. Studies have shown that when a person sets and sticks to a goal, their self-esteem and overall outlook on life goes up. By incentivizing employees to set New Year’s goals, your organization will create a more positive, present, and engaged workforce.
