Firms Rev Up Their Wellness Programmes

Employees can get a room for power naps, fitness programmes, and lunch-and-learn sessions.

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With Singapore’s workforce clocking in an average of 44.9 hours of work in a week, the city’s companies are implementing tailored wellness programmes to combat insufficient sleep, stress and potential burnout.

At risk management and advisory firm Willis Towers Watson, employees are able to take a break in their wellness room for a short massage or power nap in between work. “We encourage work-life integration by allowing colleagues the ability to work from home when required. We also organise in-house badminton matches, weekly pop-pilates, yoga and Zumba classes in the office for colleagues to participate after work,” Pheona Chua, senior consultant for corporate health & wellbeing at Willis Towers Watson Asia, told Singapore Business Review.

“Many large firms also provide employee assistance programmes to support employees with all-rounded mental wellbeing initiatives. Mid and smaller firms typically organise lunch-and-learn sessions and a series of support group workshops that are highly effective in smaller groups,” she said. “When we consider programmes to an individual’s needs, they typically respond with higher level of engagements which boost productivity level. This leads to a reduction in absenteeism and turnover rates.”

According to a survey conducted by Willis Towers Watson in 2018, firms with effective and tailored health and wellbeing programmes in place are two times more likely to outperform their peers, 50% more likely than competitors to report lower turnover rates, and are seeing fewer days of unplanned absences per year.

“Some companies have employed an in-house mindfulness and meditation coach to ensure the welfare of their employees. Some firms have also included an on-site meditation room or sent their employees on workshops with external coaches,”