Theres a distinct difference between what is classed as health benefits and what is classed as wellbeing. In workplaces today it seems to be one or the other but what are the benefits of fostering both? In this blog post we will be breaking down the difference between the two, the various resources that fit into each category and how they can gel together to benefit the workplace.

First up is Health. Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It encompasses all aspects of an individual's well-being, including their physical, mental, and social dimensions. Health is a dynamic and holistic concept that reflects the overall functioning and balance of a person's body, mind, and social interactions. It involves not just the absence of illness but also the presence of positive factors that contribute to a person's well-being and quality of life.

Health can be directly impacted by intervention but it can also fluctuate over time depending on the consistency of your efforts to manage the manageable’s. We see health as the most important factor in contribution to the game we call life. Manage it successfully and you will prosper, ignore it and it will cause you more harm than good.

Second up is wellbeing. Well-being refers to the state of being healthy, happy, and content in one's life. It encompasses various aspects of an individual's overall experience, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Well-being goes beyond the absence of illness and involves a sense of balance, satisfaction, and fulfilment in different domains of life.

When it comes to the workplace, our wellbeing is effected by the mismanagement of not just our health, but of the people around us. Yes our environment is the second biggest contributor to our state of wellbeing after health. This is something that cannot always be managed because it is reliant on other humans to change. You can have great health, but if you walk through the door on Monday morning knowing the environment you work in isn’t contributing positively to your needs, then your wellbeing will naturally suffer.

What resources fit into the health category?

1. Wellness apps such as Platinum wellbeing

2. Wellbeing engagement services

3. Health cash plans

4. Occupational health testing and consulting

5. Health screening

6. Employee benefits packages

7. Exercise classes at work

8. Drop in clinics physical/mental/financial

What resources fit into wellbeing category?

1. Workshops

2. Training

3. Cultural reform consulting

4. Wellbeing engagement services

5. Wellbeing apps

6. Harrison or I3 profiling assessments

7. Change consulting

So how can they work together in the same company and still be cost effective?

You can see from the two lists that there are some differences but also some that fit into both categories. This is normal thanks to their broad reach and capabilities. However some of them can be utterly useless unless you know what your people need. So the secret to a successful implementation is to assess and analyse first then use your findings to implement the right solutions. Wellbeing engagement services can be a consistent foundation for bettering health and collecting data because they are primarily assessing and proactively sourcing further support for the people that partake.

How does this benefit the workplace?

With relevance comes engagement! If your employees feel like you are blasting music to their ears  with solutions to their problems then they will respond with increased productivity, respect for the company, improved retention and decreased absence. You can weight up these benefits against your cost of replacing a member of staff, cost of absence and newfound revenue from increased productivity.

If this blog post has been useful to you, why not schedule a call and find out what more Teesside Health Co can do for your organisation. We offer a tailored package call The Ecosystem, it comprises of our wellbeing engagement service, app platinum wellbeing, a health cash plan and our highly regarded consultancy. Book a free no obligation consultation by clicking the link; https://calendly.com/harry-teessidehealthco/30min