While some people may believe the words wellness and well-being are interchangeable, our Associate Experience team (comprised of Human Resources and Learning & Development) disagree. Join us as we take a closer look at the meaning of these words, how Members 1st promotes well-being and how YOU can implement well-being practices at your workplace.
Wellness and Well-Being: What’s the Difference?
Merriam Webster Dictionary defines wellness (opens in a new tab) as "the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal" and well-being (opens in a new tab) as "the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous." Members 1st launched our wellness program in 2013 and has expanded the program’s focus from wellness to the holistic nature of well-being.
The 6 pillars of our well-being program include:
Physical
Mental
Social
Financial
Professional
Spiritual
Why the Transition to Well-Being?
Studies have shown that higher well-being in associates can lead to a boost in satisfaction, teamwork and productivity, and can even improve a company’s bottom line.
Keeping tabs on your organizational culture and well-being is important, too. Members 1st periodically conducts surveys where associates share feedback on our culture and well-being. These surveys ensure we are focusing on what means the most to our associates and their well-being.
How Can You Practice Workplace Well-Being?
Our credit union provides online programs, events, activities, rewards for program completion and yearly recognition for associates’ well-being efforts. One of our most popular events for associates is our well-being fair, which helps raise awareness about well-being. It features a variety of vendors, exercise sessions and free healthy snacks.
If you cannot swing an in-person event, we recommend going virtual. Since 2020, we’ve taken the virtual route with our well-being fair and included helpful tips, informational videos submitted by associates on our well-being pillars and more.
Any Advice on Staying Committed to Well-Being?
Our SVP of Assoicate Experience, Sara recommends reflecting on all parts of your life and not hyper-focusing on one aspect, like your weight. Focusing on making small, meaningful improvements can be more effective than taking on all aspects of your well-being that you want to improve on.
Think about your overall well-being and pick just one thing that you can add to your day that will make you an even more effective you!
Thank you to our SVP of Associate Experience, Sara Kennedy and Benefits Manager, Jennifer Cubbage, for your collaboration on this blog post.
