Wellable

Old and young worker

Generations are colliding in the workplace. Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers are all represented in today’s employee population. Until Generation X and Baby Boomers fully exit the workforce, employers are tasked with finding a way to create work environments that are multi-generation-friendly. Employers are using wellness programs to shape corporate culture, and like other aspects of corporate culture, a wellness program must address a generationally diverse workforce.

In a recent article, Dr. Carmella Sebastian recommends that employers should use corporate wellness programs to create a Millennial-friendly culture. Dr. Sebastian cites an Aon Hewitt study that claims helping employees manage their health is key to developing a Millennial-friendly culture. Developing a Millennial-friendly culture is essential as the Millennial population continues to replace the boomer generation in the workforce.

Millennial in workplace

To create a Millennial-friendly culture, employers cannot rely on legacy wellness solutions; instead, employers need innovative Millennial-friendly wellness. A Millennial-friendly wellness program should leverage the technology that Millennials are already using. With over 80% of Americans ages 25-34 owning a smartphone (and this number is likely higher for those in the workplace), offering a smartphone wellness solution makes sense.

A few months ago we wrote about how healthcare needs to take lessons from the automotive industry’s approach to Millennial-friendly technology. Millennials want an accessible and easy to use interface, a fun and enjoyable wellness experience, and a convenient 24/7 mobile-accessible solution. Finding a wellness solution that incorporates these characteristics will make the program more Millennial-friendly.

Older employee

We agree with Dr. Sebastian’s assessment of the importance of Millennial-friendly culture and wellness, but we also believe that Millennial-friendly and multi-generational-friendly do not need to be mutually exclusive. Employers should not create a Millennial-friendly environment at the expense of non-Millennials. With so much excitement around innovative (Millennial-friendly) wellness technology, it’s easy to neglect non-Millennial employees, but employers should not throw away their legacy wellness features just yet. Wellness is not a one-size-fits-all solution and different generations will respond better to different features of a wellness program. While mobile technology may get Millennials excited about the wellness program, older generations, who are less tech savvy, may be put off by the thought of having a company sponsored wellness program in their pocket. Any mobile wellness program should be complimented by non-mobile features, which employees can engage with from their office desk (hopefully a standing deck…). Recently there have been a number of wellness programs that rely on socializing participation. Millennials may love socializing their wellness participation, but non-Millennials may loath the idea of publically announcing their engagement. Make sure to keep social, mobile, and other features optional to ensure program participation across generations.

When evaluating a new wellness program’s features and ease of use, employers should incorporate feedback from a diverse group of employees. If a wellness solution doesn’t have features that appeal to multiple generations, then it’s probably not the right fit for an age diverse organization.

Get our latest articles delivered straight to your inbox!

Other Articles In Holistic Workplace Wellness