In today’s busy world, companies are increasingly recognizing their critical impact on employee wellness. Beyond the traditional focus on physical health, employee wellness encompasses a broader view, including mental, emotional, and social well-being. Organizations that invest in the holistic wellness of their workforce, providing opportunity for regular exercise, healthy eating, and stress management techniques, not only foster a healthier, more engaged team, but also reap significant benefits in terms of productivity, retention, and overall company success.
At Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) we strive to meet our employee’s wellness needs with each benefit we offer. We start with traditional offerings that are affordable and accepted by a high percentage of providers and enhance our benefits package with our non-traditional benefits such as education assistance for our employee’s spouses, domestic partners, and their dependents. We aim to support our employees to feel their best to achieve personal and organizational goals.
Mental Health Matters
While physical health has long been a priority for wellness programs, mental health is quickly gaining recognition as equally important. Issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout are being brought to the forefront, revealing just how critical mental health support is in the workplace.
Addressing mental health and providing resources for stress relief can reduce these common mental health struggles, leading to more sustainable performance and engagement over the long term. At Parallax and the OAI we support our employee’s mental health by providing affordable and rich benefit plans that include an employee assistance program with access to free counseling along with a flexible work schedule allowing time for stress relief such as going for a walk. A workforce that is physically, mentally, and emotionally balanced is likely to be more creative, innovative, and driven to meet company goals. The World Health Organization determined that for every dollar invested in mental health treatment, there is a return of four dollars in improved health and productivity. On the other side of the coin, employees who struggle with mental health challenges are less likely to be engaged, productive, or satisfied with their jobs.
Promoting Work-Life Balance
Another key aspect of employee wellness is work-life balance. Studies show that flexible working hours, remote work options, and generous paid time off policies can significantly enhance an employee’s ability to balance their professional and personal lives. Parallax and OAI are proud to offer 25 days of paid time off, 3 flexible holidays, flexible work schedule, and the ability to work from home for most roles. Companies that respect their employee’s time and encourage them to recharge are more likely to become an employer of choice maintaining high levels of engagement, reducing turnover, and attracting top talent.
Other Parts of Wellness
Financial wellness is another large part of a person’s mental and even physical health. At Parallax we offer incentive bonuses, 401k options with an employer match, employer HSA contributions, and tiered healthcare plans. We also provide access to support in a variety of areas such as financial services, legal services, travel planning, identify theft protection, accident insurance, and critical illness insurance. These benefits are little or no cost to employees.
One of our most admired benefits that falls outside of traditional benefit offerings is our education assistance program. This program covers our employee’s tuition costs up to 8 credit hours per semester, plus it includes tuition cost coverage for their spouse or domestic partner and dependent’s. Another unique benefit we will begin offering the start of the next benefit year is a benefit class for those working 20-29 hours per week. Expanding the status eligibility gives more flexibility to our employees and removes the possibility of gaps in coverage for those transitioning to retirement or a part time status.
Overlapping with engagement initiatives, employee wellness is also recognizing and celebrating the happy moments. The gift program at Parallax and OAI is used for celebratory events such as graduations, weddings, and birth or adoption. We also have a recognition program incorporating our core values (drive impact, collaborate everywhere, pursue the diversity of people and thought, innovate bold solutions, act with integrity, and commit to personal growth) that allows employees to give each other shoutouts for others to see, while promoting our organizational goals and values.
Employee Retention and Attraction
When employees see that their organization cares about their well-being, it fosters a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration. A wellness-focused workplace promotes a sense of community, where employees are more likely to engage with one another and collaborate more effectively. In short, when employees thrive, the company thrives. Together let’s keep moving forward valuing compassion over costs, vitality over burnout, and get rid of the “Sunday scaries” for good.
Learn more: Parallax Advanced Research strives to be an employer of choice. To learn more about how we support employee wellness, visit our Career Page and apply to join our team today!
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About Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute
Parallax Advanced Research is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. With offices in Ohio and Virginia, Parallax aims to deliver new solutions and speed them to market. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements in Ohio and for the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing the aerospace industry in Ohio and the nation by fostering collaborations between universities, aerospace industries, and government organizations, and managing aerospace research, education, and workforce development projects.