Employee Wellness Group Refreshes Mission

The Refresh Employee Resource Group (ERG) recently refreshed its mission: The team is now focused on supporting Navan employees from a holistic perspective that includes physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial well-being.

“We believe each employee should have the opportunity to live well and thrive,” said Rachel Wolff, senior legal counsel and global co-lead of the ERG.

ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that support and unite Navan employees around shared values and interests. Every ERG has two global co-leads who help facilitate the group and report to the Belong: DEI Council, which helps further the company’s DEI strategy, foster collaboration, and support company-wide efforts to build awareness and increase visibility.

A scroll through the Refresh Slack channel shows that many Navan employees share a common interest in staying active, whether that’s through group Peloton rides, personal yoga practices, Flamenco dancing, or Ultimate Frisbee. But the group knew that supporting physical activity was not enough and wanted to extend the ERG’s vision.

“It’s not new for people to know they need to move,” said Wolff. “We needed a broader approach.”

The new approach also recognizes that while there are some aspects of well-being such as diet and sleep that employees can control themselves, full well-being must also be supported by company culture.

“Companies must now fully support all sides of employee well-being, in ways that many have not considered before,” explained Sandrea Marsh, senior travel agent and global co-lead.

Navan employees have access to Modern Health, a mental health platform that provides 1:1 video sessions, group support, meditations, and digital courses. It also provides therapist- and coach-led group sessions on topics like emotional resilience, stress, and burnout, as well as healing circles for Black, Latinx, and Asian communities and allies in solidarity.

Navan also gives all employees a yearly wellness stipend they can use for gym memberships, fitness classes, personal training, sports equipment, mindfulness app subscriptions, massages, chiropractor visits, or acupuncture.

“I put my stipend toward my Peloton membership and new Nikes for my daily jaunts on the bike path with Audible and my best furry friend,” said Robyn Gilmartin, principal enterprise customer success manager and Refresh member.

Marsh said that the Refresh ERG both encourages and advocates for employee wellness practices. “We’re here to support employees as they pursue happy, healthy lifestyles and a work environment where they can be their most authentic selves,” she said.

With its new mission as a guidepost, the ERG is hosting two “Return to Baseline” workshops in September, to help employees learn how to be more in control of their stress levels and pick up some easy relaxation methods. Employees can find information on how to sign up through the Slack channel, Life@Navan, and the weekly Friday Flyer e-newsletter.

Of course, Navan recognizes that well-being looks different for every employee. When asked to share wellness tips, members of Refresh had varied insights on how they stay healthy, both on and off the road.

Here are a few of their tips:

Christine Adamission, sales and success enablement manager

“Find what energizes you and dedicate some time every day to doing that activity/practice.”

Jess Arn, travel experience operations manager

“If you’re traveling and you miss your family, allow yourself to feel those emotions but recognize you do not need to feel guilt; use that as motivation to make sure you are as present as possible whenever you are home.”

Stacey Comer, travel agent II

“I spoke with a doctor having anxiety because he was flying for the first time since the pandemic began and suggested that he remember to take deep breaths. He started laughing and said, ‘I can't believe you just said that because this is exactly what I tell people for a living and I forgot!’”

Jejelle Edmundson, paralegal, employment and compliance

“Pursuing a healthy lifestyle looks different for everyone. I love Flamenco dancing, but I also need to read, eat healthy foods, spend time with my friends, and go to live shows.”

Alex Newman, IT support lead

“Start today, start now, and find a community you can be on your journey with.”

Doug Pullman, vice president, Liquid marketing and demand generation

“If you work from home, add a commute. For me, it’s a walk in the morning and a workout in the afternoon. This practice gives you mental distance between your home office and personal life, with the added bonus of some physical activity.”

Caitlin Sanford, principal UX researcher

“When traveling, stay hydrated, go light on alcohol, and bring healthy snacks like nuts and apples. Fight jet lag by using melatonin and getting sunshine exposure—especially on the backs of your knees…really! Stretch and get up often on long flights, and book hotels that have gyms.”

Diversity, equality, and inclusion permeate every part of the mission at Navan, and the workplace is built to be a foundation for personal and professional growth—regardless of an employee’s gender, nationality, or background. Interested in a career at Navan? See what roles are available today.