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Health and wellness are a key pillar of the company’s mission and purpose, as John Hancock believes life insurers should care greatly about helping customers live longer, healthier lives. John Hancock Vitality, first introduced in 2015, combines life insurance with a technology-enabled program that offers education, support, incentives, and rewards for the everyday steps they take to stay healthy. There is a clear connection between John Hancock’s philosophy to help customers live healthier lives and empowering employees to do the same, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent research shows that employees across the globe feel that the pandemic has impacted their wellbeing. A November 2020 report from McKinsey revealed 62% of employees globally consider mental health issues to be a top challenge during the COVID-19 crisis (McKinsey: The priority for workplaces in the new normal? Wellbeing). In a separate study of 7,500 consumers in six countries, conducted in August 2020, 79% of the respondents said they believe that wellness is important, and 42% consider it a top priority (McKinsey’s Future of Wellness Survey).
John Hancock and its parent company Manulife understand the critical importance of providing employees with tools and resources that help them maintain their health and wellbeing. This year, the company decided to add an engagement element by designing an employee-facing program that gives individuals the opportunity to prioritize their wellness and share with their colleagues the different ways they’re doing so.
“Elevate: Your Mind. Your Balance. Your Health” was launched in May 2021 to celebrate John Hancock’s company values and culture, engage and connect employees, and help build employer brand. Elevate is comprised of monthly themed campaigns, each focused on a separate element of healthy living. Employees submit photos via an internal social networking platform for the chance to win grand prizes like a Peloton bike, Marriott Bonvoy credit, or wellness retreat. Each campaign also includes a virtual event aligned to the designated theme, featuring special celebrity guests interacting with employees.
During the first segment, employees submitted photos of their Healthy Activities – bike rides with family, playing with a pet, a beach day with water activities – and the special event on May 27 featured a lunchtime workout with celebrity fitness instructor Harley Pasternak. Last summer, employees shared how they maintain Mindfulness in their lives through activities such as yoga, meditation, fishing, creating art, gardening, and more. On July 28, more than 2,500 employees joined a meditation session and fireside chat with Eve Lewis, Director of Meditation at Headspace.
The latest segment, Eating Well, encouraged employees to share photos of the nutritious meals they prepared. In a special event with Christine Ha, the first blind contestant of MasterChef and the winner of the show’s third season in 2012, employees were led through a cooking demonstration of Christine’s garlic noodles recipe.
To date, employees have submitted over 1,300 photos and nearly 3,000 colleagues have tuned into each Elevate event, sharing positive feedback through post-event surveys, as outlined in the attached file. Due to the success of the program in 2021, Elevate will continue throughout 2022 with upcoming themes including Peace of Mind, Gratitude, and more.
