Lunchtime yoga classes, meditation pods, access to fitness apps. These are just a few of the wellness perks corporates are now offering their employees to look after their wellbeing. Just in Australia last year, $1.4 billion was spent on corporate wellness initiatives, and this is projected to continue to grow at a rate of 5.5% each year till 2030. So it’s safe to say that the complimentary fruit bowl in the work kitchen isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Here are a couple of reasons why there has been an increased focus on corporate wellness:

An uncovering need from COVID. Due to the long isolation periods and lockdowns during the COVID pandemic, this brought greater attention to people's mental health.  Businesses had to do what they could to keep their employees motivated and engaged whilst working from home. Offering all types of innovative wellbeing initiatives. As the workforce now returns to the office, these wellbeing initiatives that were put in place highlighted the importance of making sure the wellbeing of employees is at the forefront of any corporate growth strategy.

Technology advancements. The continued advancement in technology has also contributed to uncovering the importance of businesses looking after employees' well-being. With wearable devices now being able to identify, track and report on measurable well-being indicators, companies can firsthand see how their staff well-being directly impacts the performance of their business.

Mental Health Awareness. These days, people are generally more open when it comes to discussing their mental health status. This has led to businesses becoming more aware of the current well-being of their employees.

Most of the research has pointed out that this needed increased focus on employee wellness is long overdue. This is leading to plenty of wellness businesses putting their best foot forward to meet this demand. Here are some of the more unique offerings that are grabbing the attention of the executives in the corner offices.

Equine Wellness. Equine Wellness is a form of experiential therapy and innovative method that leverages the intuitive and responsive nature of horses to reflect human behaviours, facilitating profound insights and improvements in various professional skills. Maxime Willems from MW Therapy and Training is one of the leading experts in Australia in this space and along with her professional team, has worked with some major businesses to facilitate team wellbeing workshops. From learning how to find calmness and clarity in periods of stress, expressing personal boundaries, and engaging in clear communication, there is a lot that can be obtained from mindfully interacting with a herd of horses. The reflective aspect of the programs encourages individuals to examine their own strengths and areas for improvement, contributing to personal growth and a greater sense of purpose in their professional roles. On top of growing professional development skills, change of scenery and the novelty of engaging out in nature, together with horses, tend to invigorate participants, making them more open to new ideas and perspectives when they return to their regular work routines. 

All-in-one Fit-Tech Machines. Instead of giving out gym memberships to their employees, businesses are bringing the gym into the office with innovative pieces of fitness equipment and technology. Vitruvian was founded in Perth by entrepreneur, Jon Gregory, after he couldn’t go to the gym during the COVID lockdowns. The sleek all-in-one gym solution can generate up to 400 kgs of resistance and uses AI to track your training and alter its workout depending on your history, demographics and goals.

Whether you’re an employee or employer, taking time to invest in your well-being is now proving to not only be a great investment for your own mental health but also for your company’s performance.