Brantford-Brant Small Business Week

Lead Well, Work Well

Why workplace wellness programs miss the mark—and what actually works

Workplace wellness programs are everywhere—but are they making employees or workplaces healthier?

Large-scale workplace studies have found that many conventional wellness programs may encourage participation or short-term healthy behaviours but do not necessarily improve employee health, absenteeism, productivity or healthcare costs.

The problem may not be a lack of wellness initiatives. It may be that workplace wellness is too often treated as an activity rather than a leadership and business issue.

Join Ladies Who Lead during Small Business Week for a practical and thought-provoking conversation with Kelly Lane of Oak House Benefits. The conversation will explore what meaningful workplace well-being looks like and how leadership, workplace culture, policies, employee benefits and everyday practices can work together to create healthier organizations.

The conversation will include:

•    Why some workplace wellness initiatives fail to create meaningful change

•    The difference between offering wellness perks and building a healthy workplace

•    Employer responsibilities, accommodations and supportive workplace policies

•    Benefits and resources that are realistic for small businesses

•    Mental health, burnout and sustainable workloads

•    Workplace experiences that can disproportionately affect women

•    Practical changes employers can make without a large budget

•    How stronger workplace practices can support retention, trust and business performance

The conversation will examine workplace well-being through a women-informed leadership lens, while offering practical insights for workplaces and employees of every gender.

Whether you are a business owner, manager, employee or community leader, you will leave with ideas you can apply in your own workplace—and a better understanding of what helps people genuinely thrive at work.

Everyone is welcome. Breakfast is included.