This week, Troy and Jay sit down with Alan Diehl, Manager of Learning and Development at Fike Corporation, to uncover how a decades-old manufacturing company became a trailblazer in employee wellbeing. Together, they discuss the critical role of personalization in driving engagement, the strategic business case for robust wellness initiatives, and how Fike has evolved its program over an incredible 40-year journey. This episode is a masterclass in transforming a traditional wellness program into a powerful tool for building culture and retaining top talent in a competitive industry.

Alan shares the inside story of how Fike tailored its mental health and wellness messaging to resonate with its unique, male-dominated workforce, proving that the language we use is just as important as the resources we offer. The conversation highlights how viewing wellbeing as a competitive advantage, rather than a cost, directly impacts recruitment and employee retention. They also delve into the importance of a collective approach, from extending program access to employee spouses to strategically involving wellness champions and even skeptics to foster organizational buy-in. Ultimately, this discussion reveals how a holistic and adaptable strategy can create a high-performing culture where every employee feels supported.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Personalization as the Key to Employee Wellness Engagement

02:04 Fike’s 80-Year Legacy and Early Wellness Innovation

04:36 Alan Diehl’s Unconventional Path to Leading wellbeing Programs

08:52 Embedding Culture and Learning into Employee Retention Strategy

12:35 Evolving Wellness from One-Time Events to Continuous Support

16:03 Overcoming Engagement Barriers in a Male-Dominated Workforce

18:05 Rebranding Mental Health Programs to Resonate with Employees

25:40 Extending Wellness Resources to Families for Greater Impact

32:22 Leveraging Flexible Incentives to Drive Participation

36:18 Turning Skeptics into Advocates for Wellness Culture

39:28 Best Day Ever

Key Takeaways:

"Wellbeing programs, when thoughtfully designed, are more than just a perk. They're strategic initiatives that shape culture, boost engagement, and support employees’ health journey."

"We also have to focus on the culture being something that sets us apart... For our competitive advantage, we know we need to retain as the key piece of our strategy."

"Without the support at home, without a collective effort between the employee and their spouse and their family, we're going to fail in this mission."

"If we want active participation, you have to have personalization. To me, that boosts morale, that builds trust through consistent communication and support."

"Fundamentally, we firmly believe that it is the responsibility of the leader to create a healthy and wellness culture for that team."

"Forward-thinking companies now are looking at wellbeing not just as a cost but as a competitive advantage, one that drives performance, retention, and long-term success."

Resources:

Who is Navigate? Learn more at navigatewell.com

Learn more about the ROI of employee wellbeing - https://info.navigatewell.com/roi-whitepaper

Alan Diehl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-diehl-6586a4100/

Fike Corporation: https://fike.com/