In a professional world where quality of life at work has become a major strategic issue, workplace wellbeing certification is a valuable tool for structuring and promoting your QWL approach.
This type of recognized label not only attests to your engagement the well-being of your employees, but also helps attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive job market.
Discover the five essential certifications that will transform your approach to wellness in the workplace.
Why obtain workplace wellness certification?
Obtaining a workplace wellness certification, such as ISO 26000, is essential for creating a favorable working environment. These certifications provide standards and guidelines for promoting sustainable and responsible practices in workplace wellness.
By investing in these certifications, companies demonstrate their engagement the well-being of their employees and create an environment conducive to productivity and well-being.
Ultimately, obtaining workplace wellness certification contributes to a positive corporate culture and healthy working relationships.
Before exploring essential certifications, it is important to understand the concrete benefits they bring to your organization:
- Structured methodological framework for implementing an effective QWL approach
- External recognition of your engagement employee well-being
- Competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent
- Measurable improvement in well-being and performance indicators
- Prevention of psychosocial risks and reduction of absenteeism
According to a recent study, companies certified in workplace well-being see an average 20% increase in employee satisfaction and a 25% reduction in turnover.
The 5 workplace wellness certifications to consider
1. ISO 45003: The international standard for employers
ISO 45003, published in 2021, is the first international standard specifically dedicated to the management of psychosocial risks in the workplace.
Key points of certification:
- Integrating psychological health into the occupational health and safety management system
- Preventive approach to psychosocial risks
- Compatible with ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management system)
- International recognition
Process for obtaining certification: Certification involves a comprehensive audit by an accredited body that assesses your psychosocial risk management system against the requirements of the standard.
Why choose it: Particularly suited to international companies or those that already have ISO 45001 certification, this standard provides a structured framework for integrating mental health into your overall health and safety policy.
2. Great Place To Work Label: Excellence in employee experience training
The Great Place To Work label is one of the most globally recognized certifications for quality of life at work.
Key points of certification:
- Assessment based primarily on employee feedback (Trust Index©)
- Focus on five dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and friendliness
- Recognition on three levels (certification, national rankings, Best Workplaces™ rankings)
- Annual renewal
Certification process: To be certified, a company must administer the Trust Index© questionnaire to all of its employees and obtain a minimum score of 70% positive responses.
Why choose it: This label emphasizes the actual perception of employees, making it a powerful employer branding tool. Companies certified as Great Places to Work attract 50% more applications than their non-certified competitors.
3. AFNOR QVT: Expertise in French employer branding
The QWL label issued by AFNOR is a national benchmark specifically tailored to the French context.
Key points of certification:
- Assessment based on six areas of action: job content, occupational health, skills and career paths, equal opportunities, management and engagement, performance and sustainable development
- Participatory approach involving all stakeholders
- Three levels of progress (progressing, advanced, exemplary)
- Valid for 3 years with annual monitoring
Process for obtaining certification: The process includes a self-assessment followed by an on-site audit by AFNOR experts who examine your practices and gather feedback from employees.
Why choose it: This French certification is particularly suited to organizations seeking to integrate their QWL approach into a framework that is aligned with national legislation and collective agreements.
4. B Corp:engagement and overall quality of life
If your vision of well-being is part of a broader societal approach, B Corp certification offers recognition of your positive impact on your employees, society, and the environment.
Key points of certification:
- 360° assessment of the company's impact, including employee well-being
- High standard (minimum score of 80/200 points)
- International recognition
- Renewal every 3 years
- Integration into a community of committed companies
Process for obtaining certification: Certification involves completing the B Impact Assessment, a rigorous evaluation of your practices, followed by verification by B Lab of the evidence provided and a legal amendment to the company's articles of association.
Why choose it: B Corp certification goes beyond workplace wellbeing to encompass all aspects of corporate social responsibility, making it a relevant choice for organizations wishing to demonstrate a engagement .
5. Top Employers: The goals of excellence in HR practices
The Top Employers certification focuses on excellence in HR practices, of which well-being at work is an essential component.
Key points of certification:
- Assessment based on 6 areas and 20 themes, including well-being
- Benchmark against global best practices
- Validation by an external audit
- International recognition
- Annual renewal
Process for obtaining certification: Certification involves completing the HR Best Practices Survey, followed by validation by an independent auditor and a final assessment by the Top Employers Institute.
Why choose it: This certification is particularly relevant for companies that want to evaluate and improve all of their HR practices, with well-being as part of an overall HR strategy.
How to choose the right certification for your organization?
To select the workplace wellness certification that is most relevant to your company, consider the following criteria:
- Maturity of your QWL approach: Some certifications are more accessible for beginners, while others are more suited to advanced organizations.
- Size and industry: Not all certifications are equally relevant depending on size or industry.
- International ambition: If your company operates internationally, opt for a globally recognized certification.
- Available budget: Costs vary significantly from one certification to another.
- Specific objectives: Employer marketing, prevention of psychosocial risks, cultural transformation, etc.
Prepare for your Well certification with OuiLive
Regardless of the certification sought, a successful wellness initiative requiresengagement of employees.
The OuiLive platform supports you in preparing for and obtaining these certifications through:
- Health challenges specifically designed to raise awareness and drive team engagement wellness topics
- Measurement tools to assess your starting point and track your progress
- Participatory activities that enable employees to get involved in the joint development of your QWL approach
- Analytical dashboards to identify your strengths and areas for improvement
Case study: VIPARIS used our platform for its QWL initiative, with 90% of participants reporting an improvement in their well-being and a 30% reduction in absenteeism, thus ideally preparing for its AFNOR QWL certification.
Conclusion: Beyond certification, a culture of sustainable well-being
While workplace wellness certifications are a valuable recognition of your efforts, the ultimate goal remains the establishment of a sustainable wellness culture within your organization.
The labels presented in this article provide a structured framework to guide your approach, butengagement of your teams and management remains the key factor for success.
At OuiLive, we support more than 250 companies in their QWL initiatives through our connected challenge platform. Our approach creates a participatory dynamic that transforms the preparation for certification into an opportunity to engage your employees in the long term around well-being at work.
By using video as an awareness-raising tool and taking into account employee feedback and comments, we help reduce workplace accidents and improve the "happiness index" within your company.
Ready to get started on obtaining a workplace wellness certification?