The Welsh Wire: Amy Ritsema, OnSite Wellness for Retention and Recruitment

It’s tough to recruit and retain talent in our evolving, post-COVID-19 environment. Employees who work in a company culture where they feel cared for are more apt to stay and be engaged in their jobs, according to Amy Ritsema, co-owner of Grand Rapids-based OnSite Wellness. She talked recently with Sheri Welsh for The Welsh Wire podcast.

Workplace well-being includes flexible work schedules and perks like student loan repayments and identity theft protection, Ritsema says.

“A lot of times when we talk wellness, people are thinking, oh, we’re gonna do a water challenge, we’re gonna do a steps challenge. And those are all great. We really want people to practice those healthy habits, they’re fun, they can be a rewarding thing to do as an organization, we can have fun competitions that promote good camaraderie, but you have to think bigger picture.”

That bigger picture means employers striving to create an environment that promotes a state of contentment, “Which allows an employee to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and their organization,” she says.

“So when we think about that, if we have an environment that promotes contentment, that’s going to be huge because not only am I content at my job, that means I’m not looking, that means I’m buying in when I’m there, I’m present at my job.”

Ritsema says it’s important that companies communicate the elements of their well-being philosophy, including website and social media promotion, messaging to employees, and explaining how you align your mission and values to include well-being.

Learn more about how to use workplace well-being to enhance employee retention and recruitment. Listen to this week’s podcast with Amy Ritsema.

Subscribe to The Welsh Wire podcast on iTunes for additional informative, entertaining interviews with West Michigan business leaders.