Virtual: The New Normal of Employee Wellbeing Programs

We are truly living in unprecedented times. The spread of COVID-19 has drastically altered the daily operations of businesses and individuals across the globe. More employees are working remotely and are undoubtedly dealing with increased stress and anxiety with their new routines.

It is crucial for employers to adapt to these changing conditions to ensure that they are offering their employees the best options possible to maintain a healthy wellbeing. Increased stress, anxious overeating, sleepless nights, or a decreased desire to exercise are all examples of what employees might be facing.  Without the right tools in place to help combat those unhealthy habits, employees could struggle.

So how can employers offer comprehensive and applicable wellbeing programs to their employees? Is virtual care really an increasing trend?

We’ll break down what some of the larger changes currently are in healthcare and how opting for virtual employee wellbeing programs come into play.

So, what has actually changed?
With millions of individuals being urged to stay home and only go out for necessary trips (e.g., buying groceries or picking up prescriptions), the way that healthcare is being delivered has been forced to change as well. For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in March that Medicare telehealth services would be broadened, allowing beneficiaries to “receive a wider range of services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility.”

Additionally, as of April 3, half of the country has enacted waivers for easing telehealth licensing and credentialing requirements, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards.

For example, Massachusetts issued an order allowing reciprocity for out-of-state healthcare providers, allowing those providers to practice both in-person and through telemedicine.

The Health and Human Services Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that providers can use tools such as Skype and FaceTime to communicate with patients. OCR will also “waive potential penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients through everyday communications technologies.”

But what does this mean for employee wellbeing programs? How will telecommuting impact employees? With the right wellbeing program, employers can ensure that their employees stay connected and stay in control of their personal wellbeing.

How Zillion can help
At Zillion, we have already been working on ensuring a smooth transition to the digitalization of healthcare. Our RestoreResilience program helps employers reach each of their employees, from wherever they are, honing in on stress, anxiety, and sleep.

Nutrition and exercise are also pillars of the program, allowing our members to take back control in their daily lives and create, develop, and maintain healthy routines.

RestoreResilience pairs each member with a personal health coach for one-on-one sessions, either through phone calls or texting. Our coaches work with each individual, creating a personalized approach to wellbeing that will drive true behavior change. RestoreResilience also offers peer-to-peer support, allowing members to communicate and encourage one another.

Finally, RestoreResilience always has the latest information on COVID-19, ensuring that our members stay current on the changing environment.

We may never fully return to the “old way” of employee wellness programs, and that’s okay. Reach out to our team to see how RestoreResilience can make an impact on your new normal.