At the Heart of Health: Personal Insights from Bloomfilter’s CEO on Employee Wellness
By Kraig Kleeman
“At Bloomfilter, we’ve traded coffee pots for yoga mats, late nights for mental health days, and snacks that only pretend to be food for those that actually are—because when the office feels more like a retreat than a rat race, everyone races to the top.” — Erik Severinghaus, Founder and CEO
Introduction
I have been thinking much about how the well-being of our team at Bloomfilter is not only good for them but also very important for our whole company. It is similar in many other places where smart people understand that keeping everyone healthy means more than just reducing sick days. It’s about making sure everyone feels great, stays engaged, and contributes their best.
Why Wellness Matters So Much
Let’s be honest: when we feel happy, we do good things, yes? This is main idea why putting energy and money into wellness programs is important. It’s not only about lowering healthcare costs or filling out HR forms. It is alsoe about making a workplace where everyone likes to come because we feel fully supported in every aspect.
And it is personal for me. I remember when we began Bloomfilter, living on endless cupss of coffee and so many late nights without enough sleep. It was not something we could keep doing, and to be honest, it stopped being enjoyable after some time. That is when I usnderstood—if I felt this way, my team probably did too. So, we began making small changes step by step to help everyone live healthier at work.
What Kinds of Wellness Programs Are There?
Well, it can look like many different things depending on the place where you work:
- Physical Fitness: We have gym memberships sorted, plus we invite instructors to the office for yoga and kickboxing sessions. Last spring, some employees made a company soccer team—it has been so much fun!
- Mental Health: We care a lot about this. Anyone can take a day off for mental health when they need it, no questions asked. We also have workshops on handling stress and access to therapists.
- Eating Right: In our kitchen, we keep snacks that are really healthy. Each month, a local nutrition exper.t visits to talk with us about food and wellness. These talks have been very educational for everyone.
- Balancing Work and Life: This is very important. We give flexible hours, also you can wo.rk from home if you want. We want your job to fit into your life, not bulldoze through it.
So, What’s the Big Deal?
All these programs can make us feel important. And when people feel importan.t, they stay longer. They also perform their jobs better, speak more positively about their work, and you know what? This helps us save money because we don’t have to train new employees all the time. Plus, everyone’s happier when they come to work, and who doesn’t want that?
And it not only makes us feel better. We see fewer people taking sick days, and even our insurance costs are going down because everyone is healthier overall.
Wrapping Up
I have seen with my own eyes how these changes can transform a workplace. It is not only about becoming healthier; it means being happier, more imaginative, and feeling closer as a team. And as the guy who started this place, nothing could make me prouder.
For you who think about improving your company’s wellness efforts, start easy. Hear what your team wants, maybe begin with one thing and grow from that. Trust me, the investment pays off in ways you can’t even imagine.
About Erik Severinghaus
Erik Severinghaus is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, and mountaineer, blending Mark Zuckerberg’s visionary business insights with Tony Stark’s innovative humanitarian efforts. With sharp business acumen and a talent for engaging stakeholders, Erik has founded and exited ventures generating over $600M in value. A founding investor in Hyde Park Angels, he helped propel ShipBob to unicorn status and raised $6M for his latest venture, Bloomfilter, which is experiencing rapid growth. Also an endurance athlete, Erik has summited major peaks, including Mt. Everest. He often shares how overcoming business challenges has prepared him for his climbing triumphs.