Three Quick Tips to Help Increase Staff Wellness and Retention - Staff Wellness is Key to Retention

Staff wellness is key to retention and includes the idea of providing employees with amenities that promote mental and physical well-being. Staff require opportunities to refresh, recharge, and renew, so they are able to perform their work at an optimal level. However, in corrections, it can be difficult to know exactly where to begin. Agencies and their employees may be wondering what amenities they should offer. How much should be allocated to employee wellness in an organizational budget? To help get the creative juices flowing, here are three simple ideas to promote staff wellness and retention.

1. Healthy work-life balance

A healthy work-life balance is being able to allocate time for work without sacrificing time for other things that are important to employees. Things that are important to corrections staff can be as diverse and varied as the employees themselves. Common staff priorities might include salary, benefits, and time for family. Other priorities may include volunteering, flexible work schedules, and pet-friendly workspaces. To promote a healthy work-life balance, staff should be encouraged to take designated breaks to refresh and relax, enjoy a walk or workout, or even listen to music. Staff work hours can be limited (not to exceed a certain number of hours per day), where possible. People tend to work better when they have opportunities to rest, or periods where they can recharge before getting back to the “nitty gritty" of work. Consequently; administrators, managers, and supervisors can lead the charge by setting that same example for their staff. There should also be a culture that creates an environment where staff feel comfortable sharing any suggestions or concerns they may have.

2. Physical wellness amenities

It is critical to understand the physicality of the job and its impact on staff. Corrections employees are required to be on their feet or seat for significant periods of time which can cause stiffness, pain, or other issues. These conditions can be exacerbated by a number of additional variables such as frequently standing or walking on concrete floors. Sitting in an office chair for hours at a time without the opportunity for regular standing or movement can also contribute to health conditions. Simple remedies might include alternative flooring for walking paths or standing areas, and rising ergonomic keyboards or wireless headsets for offices, respectively. Additional opportunities could include providing access to onsite medical providers (in person or virtual), including those who may specialize in the types of health ailments corrections staff tend to have.

3. Medical benefits that cover mental health support

Even after you’ve “hit the ball out of the park" by providing meaningful physical wellness programs, it’s possible that those offerings may fall short when it comes to correctional employees’ mental health. Mental health statistics for corrections staff are simply awful as employees are more prone to certain conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. There is a dire need for adequate mental health services to be provided both with correctional staff’s medical benefits and onsite at the workplace. These mental health services could include a variety of treatments or therapies. The services could also be accessible to staff in person or virtually for those who are unable or unwilling to meet in person. It is critical that correctional staff receive an adequate standard of care for mental health, as the need for that care is higher among correctional staff than it is among the general population.

Staff wellness is essential in all fields. However, it is especially important when it comes to correctional staff. Those working in corrections face a variety of challenges, some of which are unique to their career. It is often difficult to maintain a work-life balance in the face of these challenges. As a result, it is more important than ever that staff are refreshed and recharged coming into work. Agencies would benefit tremendously in retention by investing in their employees' physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These are just a few steps that can be implemented to support correctional staff wellness and retention. It is a worthwhile investment into the correctional industry’s most important resource; its people.