Prioritizing Employee Wellness During the Holidays: A Guide for Employers

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration and togetherness. However, it can also bring heightened personal and financial stress, busyness and a tendency to neglect personal wellness. For employers, fostering a culture of well-being during this period is crucial for their team’s overall health and productivity. One powerful way for them to support their employees is through their health benefits. Accounts like health savings accounts (HSAs) or flexible spending accounts (FSAs) offer an excellent opportunity to promote wellness while alleviating holiday-related stress.

We’ve compiled the following tips for you to share with your employer clients to help promote wellness ahead of the holidays.

Encouraging wellness through health benefits accounts

• Educate Your Employees: Host workshops or provide resources explaining the benefits and nuances of HSAs and FSAs. Equip your employees with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health care spending. Provide lists like these that remind employees of eligible items they can purchase using these accounts, potentially as stocking stuffers for their family.
• Communication Is Key: Regularly communicate the advantages of these accounts and how employees can leverage them for their well-being. Highlight their ability to cover various wellness expenses, from gym memberships to mental health services. Go beyond telling employees about account advantages by supplying tutorials and office hours to help users sign up for these benefits.
• Support Healthy Choices: Encourage your team to use their HSAs or FSAs for preventive care. Offer incentives or subsidies for wellness programs, fitness activities, or health screenings. These initiatives not only promote well-being but also demonstrate your commitment to employee health.
• Plan for the Future: Emphasize the long-term benefits of HSAs during open enrollment. Encourage employees to think about their future health care needs and the advantage of saving for retirement medical expenses. Additionally, host tutorials on utilizing HSAs as an investment tool. Now that many employees are newly enrolled in health benefits, help them take advantage of these accounts.
• Flexibility and Accessibility: Ensure that the process of accessing and utilizing these benefits is seamless. Provide easy-to-understand guidelines, online portals, or apps for employees to manage their accounts effortlessly. Make it clear who they should contact if they have questions or issues accessing their account.

The holiday season is an ideal time to remind employees of the importance of prioritizing their well-being. By promoting and supporting the use of health benefits accounts, employers can empower their teams to make informed choices about their health while easing financial burdens. As we embrace the spirit of giving this season, let’s also give the gift of wellness to valued employees.