Employee Wellness Coaching is the Missing Link to Success
You may or may not be Team Onsite. If you are, we have thoughts. As businesses encourage employees back to the office, leadership expects improved collaboration, innovation, and engagement. They are investing in workplace enhancements, team-building initiatives, and cultural initiatives to maximize the benefits of in-person work. If employers are setting high expectations for teamwork and productivity through this model, they should apply the same standard to employee wellness. The return to the office presents an opportunity to reinforce holistic well-being by integrating onsite employee wellness coaching and healthcare, which has been proven to be more effective than digital-only wellness initiatives.
The Power of In-Person Work and Onsite Employee Wellness Coaching
Companies have long recognized the benefits of in-person work, citing increased productivity, stronger relationships, and more organic knowledge-sharing. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that in-person collaboration led to a 15% increase in productivity compared to remote work (Bloom et al., 2023). Additionally, a Harvard Business Review survey revealed that 73% of executives believe office presence strengthens workplace culture (HBR, 2022).
Similarly, onsite employee wellness coaching has demonstrated significant benefits. According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, employees participating in in-person wellness coaching programs saw a 25% reduction in stress levels and a 32% improvement in physical activity engagement compared to those using digital-only programs (JOEM, 2021). Furthermore, companies with comprehensive onsite wellness initiatives reported a decrease in absenteeism by up to 20% and an increase in employee satisfaction scores by 35% (American Journal of Health Promotion, 2022).
The Shortcomings of App-Only Employee Wellness Programs
While wellness apps and virtual programs have gained popularity, and many are very good, they often fail to deliver meaningful engagement and long-term health improvements. Apps that focus only on educational videos are even worse, enabling an already sedentary lifestyle. A study by the RAND Corporation found that only 20% of employees actively use workplace wellness apps beyond the first month, citing a lack of personalization, motivation, and accountability (RAND, 2022). Without real-time feedback and human interaction, many employees struggle to maintain consistent health habits.
Moreover, an analysis published in the Journal of Applied Psychology highlighted that digital wellness programs without in-person support led to no significant improvement in overall employee well-being and, in some cases, increased feelings of isolation (JAP, 2023). These findings emphasize the need for a blended or onsite approach to wellness coaching, mirroring the benefits of in-office collaboration.
Consistency in Workplace Standards for Employees from Leadership
As our CEO, Jerry Curtin, likes to remind leaders, consistency in words and actions matters. If you want to build employee trust, be consistent and predictable. If companies expect employees to return to the office to enhance collaboration, they should also commit to on-site wellness solutions that foster long-term engagement and health. Just as in-person interactions drive stronger business outcomes, in-person coaching supports sustainable wellness improvements. Organizations that invest in comprehensive, onsite wellness programs set a clear standard for workplace well-being, reinforcing that they prioritize both productivity and the holistic health of their teams.
Consistency is key—whether in collaboration expectations or in supporting employees’ well-being. By aligning onsite wellness coaching initiatives with return-to-office strategies, businesses create a work environment that truly fosters engagement, satisfaction, and long-term success. If you have made it to the end of this article, wow, thank you! And if you are part of Team Remote, besides measurable onsite programs, we also offer a fantastic app and virtual coaching experience. We’ve got you covered!
References
Bloom, N., Han, R., Liang, J., & Roberts, J. (2023). The effects of in-person collaboration on workplace productivity. National Bureau of Economic Research. https://www.nber.org/papers/w31161
RAND Corporation. (2022). Workplace wellness programs: Employee participation and impact. RAND Research Reports. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR254.html
RAND Corporation. (2022). Digital wellness programs and employee engagement: A critical review. RAND Occasional Papers. https://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP373.html
Harvard Business Review. (2022). Strengthening workplace culture through in-office collaboration. https://hbr.org
American Journal of Health Promotion. (2022). The impact of onsite wellness programs on employee well-being and engagement. https://journals.sagepub.com/home/ahp
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. (2021). The effectiveness of in-person wellness coaching in the workplace: A longitudinal study. https://journals.lww.com/joem
Journal of Applied Psychology. (2023). Digital wellness programs and employee well-being: A mixed-methods study. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/apl