Andrea:
“My personal life is falling apart.”
Nigel:
“That's what happens when you start doing well at work. Let me know when your entire life goes up in smoke, means it's time for a promotion.”
Admittedly, I’ve seen “The Devil Wears Prada” somewhere around 1.2 million times (kidding of course…kind of) and this interaction reminds me of an ignored truth: relationship challenges away from work profoundly impact us at work, and they don’t always result in promotion. For instance, a sobering
2022 study about employees going through a divorce illustrates how significant the impact really is:
- 81%: loss of productivity
- 73%: higher absenteeism
- 67%: decline in health.
One study notes 59% of employees who go through such a situation do not feel adequately supported by their employer. When relationships break down there is a ripple effect, including inside a company. Before we dive into solutions, let’s look at how wellness has evolved.
A Very Brief History of Wellness Programs
Companies have admirably expanded wellness programs to include counseling and therapy, exercise and fitness incentives, and a variety of other benefits. I have been grateful to use all these services while working in corporate life.
Interestingly, aspects of wellness programs were somewhat controversial upon arrival for various reasons. But like King George III said in 1775: “I am apt to despise what I am not accustomed to.” Below is a rough summary of wellness trends as outlined in
Michael Rucker’s work and here is a link to his
full infographic:
- 1950’s: Alcoholism
- 1960’s: Workplace safety
- 1970’s: Fitness
- 1980’s: Connecting disease to rising healthcare costs
- 1990’s: Holistic approaches (physical, mental, and emotional)
- 2000’s: Technology, tracking and platforms
- 2010’s: Wellness movement firmly established
- 2020’s (so far): Where do we go from here?
Organizations have invested billions in wellness programs, but there remains a glaring opportunity: to prioritize support of healthy relationships knowing that health also has a ripple effect.
If health and prevention are two modes of the wellness movement, and we know relationship challenges are a high cost to all involved, then doesn’t make sense that proactive support of relationships is a logical step forward for employee wellness programs?
Introducing TrustBuilder™ for Couples
TrustBuilder™ exists to improve the quality of lives through building trust in relationships…including couples. By adding
TrustBuilder™ Couples profile as on option to your company’s menu of wellness support, you are investing into relationships of organization and community and reducing the risks of negative impacts to your organization. Here’s a summary of the couple’s profile:
- TrustBuilder™ Couples profile (40 questions in under 10 minutes) identifies key trust Builders unique to each relationship, highlights trust Breakers that would be helpful to avoid, and includes a self-directed discussion guide. For those that want additional support, TrustBuilder™ offers coaching for couples focused on creating actionable steps and maximizing insights from their profile.
Click here for a sample profile. (To put administrator’s minds at ease, implementation is a snap.)
Offering TrustBuilder™ Couples profile to your team will make a difference. Your employees will thank you.
Reach out to learn more.
