Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | March 6, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 11 Wednesday, April 5, 2017 DoubleTree Hotel 5400 Computer Drive Westborough 4:00 – 8:00 pm Corridor NiNe BUSINESS EXPO GeT ConneCTeD at the Region's Largest expo in the Route 9/495 Corridor! E 2017 For more inFormation on becoming an exhibitor or attending: Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce | 508-836-4444 www.corridornine.org 4 Hour event with More than 125 exhibitors and 1,300 Attendees network with Hundreds of Business owners & Top Level Decision Makers Services and Products on Display from expert exhibitors enjoy Award-Winning Cuisine from the Region opportunities to Win Thousands of Dollars in Prizes PreSeNTiNG SPoNSor: SuPPorTiNG SPoNSorS: Fletcher Tilton PC, Attorneys at Law Mark's Moving & Storage, Inc. Middlesex Savings Bank Reliant Medical Group Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Worcester Regional Airport Wegmans eXPo MArKeTiNG BY: HoSTiNG SPoNSor: PlATiNuM SPoNSor: MediA SPoNSorS: TODAY'S VARIETY Mindfulness in the workplace After Aetna implemented three mindfulness-based programs at its offices, the company reported a 62-minute-per-week increase in productivity. Employees reported: Source: Aetna "Because we spend a majority of our time at work, it's hard enough for peo- ple to balance work and family life," she said. "Being able to incorporate these services into a corporate setting, we get happier, healthier and more productive employees." Most of the companies in the area offering mindfulness services to employees are larger corporations, Belliveau said. For example, at the Hanover Insurance Group, employees can take advantage of virtual and in- person meditation services, a six-week online mindfulness program, yoga classes, a catalog of in-house medita- tions available any time, and an on-site, dedicated space for personal prayer and meditation. Enlightening the bottom line Practicing mindfulness regularly can have positive impacts on stability, con- trol, and efficiency – three qualities of attention – and can lead to better com- munication, reduced emotional reac- tivity, and greater empathy, according to a 2015 analysis entitled "Contemplating Mindfulness at Work: An Integrative Review" from the busi- ness school at Pepperdine University. Initial evidence suggests that it can affect interpersonal behavior as well as the quality of workgroup relationships, according to the Pepperdine report. "It's a way of relating to yourself and to other people that is more skillful, and more compassionate and kind," said Healey. "As we start to understand the nature of our own minds, it's easier to understand minds in general." Hartford health insurer Aetna said its employees reduced their perceived stress levels by 28 percent, improved their sleep quality by 20 percent, and reduced their pain by 19 percent after completing one of three internal mind- fulness-based programs. Since expanding its Mindfulness at Work program to all employees, Aetna found employees regain an estimated 62 minutes per week of productivity, an approximate dollar return of more than $3,000. Finding the right fit Companies have realized that all of the qualities they value in leaders and employees – including the ability to retain focus, stay calm in the face of challenges, and the ability to bounce back – all have their foundations in mindfulness, said Brenda Fingold, mindfulness teacher and manager at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School. "All companies, regardless of their size, are careful about how they spend their training dollars. What differentiates this training from other more traditional cor- porate programs is that it is based in sci- ence," said Fingold. "Interest in mindful- ness is high and more and more organi- • 28% reduction in stress levels • 20% improvement in sleep quality • 19% pain reduction zations want to bring it in-house." Small businesses and nonprofits tend to think they can't afford wellness services, but there's a package for everyone, Belliveau said. Smaller com- panies can host wellness sessions once a month either during lunch or at night, for example, or maybe offer a yoga class, she said. "If you look at the costs associated with employee stress, or even just employee sick time, and you're look- ing at ways you can increase employ- ees' overall health, the costs even out over time," Belliveau said. When it comes to an employee well- ness program, mindfulness should be part of an overall stress management initiative that includes medical well- ness, having a sense of purpose or meaning at work, and shifting your mindset to become more positive and productive, said David Brendel, a Boston executive coach who uses mindfulness as one of the key compo- nents of his practice. Employers need to make sure peo- ple aren't using mindfulness to avoid critical thinking tasks, he said, and to be careful to not push mindfulness on people, because people who aren't interested will end up feeling out of the loop, Brendel said. While mindfulness can be an effec- tive stress-reduction tool, companies need to make sure they themselves aren't adding any unnecessary stress to their employees. "As you're offering mindfulness, you should also be asking, 'What else are we doing to improve the workplace situation?'" he said. "That might mean hiring someone else, giving more vacation time or giving flexible work hours." W

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