Apr 17, 2018 3 min read

Not long ago, providing free bagels and coffee in the company kitchenette and a pool table in the employee lounge were common strategies for retaining employees. Today, there are still businesses that offer “workplace conveniences” like on-site cafes, daycare facilities, flexible hours, gym rooms and other perks that cost the organizations money in an attempt to attract and keep quality talent. But because so many companies have used these strategies, employees have moved from seeking convenience to seeking caring.

Research on employee engagement is finding that the workforce is becoming more interested in organizations that improve the work experience by incorporating health, emotional, financial, career, social and physical wellness, and that give employees opportunities to co-design their jobs and to contribute to their communities. This is particularly important to the new and emerging workforce of millennials and Generation Z coming to corporate America.

For well-being to work, it’s essential to focus on creating better people, along with creating better employees. Organizations need to look at their people as a whole instead of looking at them as just employees. Human capital is at the core of maximizing productivity and performance.

Recognizing this trend to create a more productive culture in today’s workplace, the Southpointe CEO Association is hosting a panel presentation during its upcoming luncheon forum titled, “Healthy Organizations = Healthy Employees = Business Success. How Do I Get There?” The panel presentation will be held 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. April 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe and includes a lunch buffet. Four experts from fields dealing with healthcare, financial planning, professional hiring and human resources will be featured. Those panelists include Jamey Bednez, director of health and productivity at Babb, Inc.; Crey Kreitzer, partner at North Star Strategic Wealth Partners; Amylyn Kyler, managing director of Kyler Professional Search; and Barry Wolfe, president of Argos HR Solutions, LLC. Opening remarks and a company’s endorsement will be made by Matthew Thiel, president and CEO of Auma Actuators located in Southpointe. The lunch, panel presentations and round-table discussions are offered to the general public for a fee of $40 and guests my register through the organization’s website at www.southpointe-ceo.org. A few spots may be available for walk-ins.

How we see the boundaries between personal lives and work lives has shifted. Employers know that a great employee experience translates to a great customer experience. Cultivating a company culture that allows workers to thrive is critical to attracting and retaining talent. Well-being is what employees want, and engagement is what employers desire.

Every company should unleash its potential by rebooting from wellness to well-being – a journey that will align the “overall” health of its workers with the success and performance of its organization.

Dr. Stephanie Urchick is CEO/Executive Director of the Southpointe CEO Association, and owner of Doctors At Work LLC, a leadership, communication and customer delight consulting company. If you miss this luncheon forum and want to learn more, contact her at execdirector@southpointe-ceo.org or 724-747-5055.