Employee wellbeing is a significant buzzword since overall employee unhappiness has increased in the past decade. Even if you are an organisation that prides itself on being a good employer, your company may be hurting employee wellbeing and health because of how the work is organised.
Ask yourself, ‘Do my employees exist in a constant state of stress and anxiety, just trying to make it through the day, working on challenging deadlines?’ If the answer is yes, you need to work on prioritising your staff’s wellness.
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What encompasses employee wellbeing?
If you think it means having a healthy snack bar, a break-out area, a games room, or a gym at the workplace, you need to look beyond that.
A holistic perspective on wellbeing and satisfaction includes the following:
- Good physical and mental health
- Emotional wellbeing
- Personal dignity
- Social health
- Spiritual wellness
- Stress management and resilience skills
- A sense of purpose and meaningfulness
Wellbeing is not a one-time effort; it is an ongoing activity that needs consistent and committed planning.
Significance of employee wellbeing
Gallup Survey suggests that on average, an employee spends 50 hours a week at their workplace. Buffet National Wellness Survey shows that organisations with effective corporate wellness programs reported 11% higher revenue per employee.
ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India), in one of its surveys, highlighted the importance of effective wellness programs, which are directly proportional to employees’ loyalty, work performance, and productivity. Further, they also reduce burnout and attrition rates.
So, what can you do to improve your employees’ wellness and health? Here are 10 simple ways to make your workplace healthier and happier:
1. A little autonomy goes a long way: Giving workers autonomy and control over how work gets done can make a lot of difference in their wellbeing and job satisfaction. Having little to no discretion at work is linked to poorer mental health and a higher rate of heart disease.
2. Keep your organisation optimally staffed: Bare-bone staffing can cause the work environment to get very stressful. No backups for help, long work hours and pressure to work hard or fast can create various health risks and lead to a dip in employee wellness. Staffing adequately may look like a costly alternative, but employers pay a higher absolute price when exhausted or ill employees burn out, are on prolonged leaves, or quit. Changing staffing in a targeted way can help improve efficiency and job satisfaction.
3. Social connect: Allowing employees the time to connect with their co-workers and giving them time off to reconnect with friends and family is imperative for their social wellbeing. A chance to connect for coffee, lunch breaks, and after-hour events are possible ways of creating happier and positive relationships between the workforce. Socially healthy workers are less stressed, more productive, creative, resilient, and healthier overall.
4. Increase stability in work schedules: Just-in-time, erratic, unpredictable work schedules bring uncertainty and make it difficult for workers to balance their personal lives and family responsibilities. Poor sleep patterns and more significant emotional distress are some dysfunctionalities that result from erratic work schedules. A study by Gap found that increasing scheduling stability benefits both the company and the employees in terms of better productivity and reduced stress levels.
5. Foster social belonging: Some job roles are inherently more distressing and have a higher burnout and turnover rate. Creating a work culture where employees develop supportive relationships with their colleagues is an essential strategy for such organisations. Creating opportunities for employees to share affirmative and success stories about their work encourages the co-workers and gives them a sense of purpose and dignity of work.
6. Personal development opportunities: Personal development opportunities encourage employees to increase self-awareness. They help team members improve their potential, talent, and even wealth. Instead of offering one-time courses, books or lectures, provide personal development workshops to help your workers develop aspects of themselves that improve their wellbeing and, in turn, help them progress in the workplace.
7. Prioritise mental wellbeing: It’s no secret that post-pandemic stress, worry, and sadness have plagued more people than before. Employers are trying to look at ways to minimise the stigma around discussing and seeking help for mental health issues. Consider implementing wellness programs that focus on promoting mindfulness in the employees. Activities such as:
- Practising meditation
- Expressing gratitude, being thankful, and caring toward co-workers
- Setting personal affirmations that bring positivity and purpose in life
8. Support employees’ personal needs: Creating awareness among managers and training them to be empathetic to employees who may also be caregivers for children or elderly parents helps improve the overall wellbeing of the workforce. Employees benefit from supervisors who are more supportive of the hurdles they face to balance their work and personal lives.
9. Participation in workplace improvement: A collaborative environment allows employees to participate in workplace improvements and can be an effective strategy for fostering their wellbeing. Organisations trying to retain valuable employees may benefit immensely from creating opportunities for problem-solving together.
10. Yoga classes: Yoga has many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. It is an effective means to instil self-care. Practising yoga every day ensures that the body is physically and mentally fit to endure challenges.
For any organisation to run a successful wellness program, it must have:
- Wellness goals that are beneficial for both the organisation and the employees
- A team of employees from different departments for planning and executing the programs
- Well-researched ideas and budget
- Regular feedback to improve or amend the programs
In the ever-changing world and unprecedented times, employee wellbeing is no longer an additional perk offered to the workforce. The responsibility of a healthy workplace is on the employers. It is imperative for organisations now more than ever to take proactive, consistent wellness measures if it wants to succeed. It should be at the core of a successful organisation.
References:
- 9 Simple Ways to Improve Employee Wellbeing | Total Wellness | Aug, 22, 2022
- Employee Wellbeing: The New Age Mantra | Human Capital | Mar 23, 2022
- 7 Strategies to Improve Your Employees’ Health and Well-Being | HBR | October 12, 2021
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