Employee well-being has been a priority for a while. But after the events of the last few years and with more workers dividing their time between the workplace and their homes, it’s more important than ever that businesses look out for their teams.
As a business owner, are you looking into more ways to promote wellbeing initiatives for your staff? If that’s the case, read on. Here, we look at how to focus on caring for the people who work for you.
What is employee wellbeing?
After the pandemic, demand is high for counsellors and mental health specialists. In addition, the rising cost of living has put financial – and mental – strain on a lot of people. According to Mind, the mental health charity, there’s a link between money and our mental health. However, many can affect our well-being, regardless of national and global events.
As an employer, it’s worth understanding employee well-being and the factors that could affect your people. Employee well-being is your staff’s emotional, physical, economic, and social health. Implementing wellness initiatives can significantly boost employee well-being. For inspiration, explore examples of wellness programs that cater to diverse employee needs, such as mental health support, fitness challenges, and financial wellness workshops. You can also get help from online programs, so your focus can be only on growing your business.
It’s important that you consider this as if a staff member’s wellbeing is poor, it can impact on their performance at work. And if there’s a chance that it’s work affecting them – for instance, they might not like how they’re being managed – this can create a snowball effect for you, your employee and their colleagues.
How to promote employee wellbeing
Here are some ideas to help you focus on the wellbeing of your staff:
Keep them comfortable
Do you have equipment and furniture that makes it easier for your staff to do their job? For instance, wrist guards, if they work on a computer and ergonomic chairs can go a long way towards enhancing comfort. Breakout rooms where staff can take a moment if they need to get away from the task they’re working on can also be essential for their wellbeing.
Several studies have shown that giving employees more flexibility or control over their work schedules benefits mental health. This can be as simple as allowing different start and end hours and making shift swapping in on-site operations easy.
Facilitating employee participation in workplace enhancements can be a successful strategy for promoting their well-being. In one study, burnout rates were lower and job satisfaction was higher among physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners invited to participate in an organized process of recognizing and resolving issues at work. So, making them comfortable in the company is essential to maintaining employees’ well-being.
Communication
The days when mental health problems were disregarded or even mocked have long since passed. In the context of that, the prevalence of anxiety and depression is currently at its peak, especially for younger employees; the key point is to notice mental health disorders and design an atmosphere at the workplace where work is adapted to meet the needs of employees’ mental health.
Apart from managing, the managers must strive to be more than just managers because they want to ensure that the staff members are healthier and more productive. Good communication and meeting for lunch or coffee outside of the office can help the parties bond. Asking regular, basic inquiries helps staff members perceive their bosses as supportive. They are:
- Regarding your workload, how do you feel?
- Do you require assistance doing your tasks?
- Are there any family obligations you have this week that we need to accommodate?
- Do you require any assistance from management?
It’s crucial to follow up on this assistance as well. It demonstrates that managers care about the welfare of their staff. Have regular 121s with your staff. Give them the opportunity to voice their highlights and challenges once a month (Studies also show that good one-to-one communication increases productivity by 60%). But also, crucially, let them know that they can speak to their manager or other trusted senior team member if they’re concerned about anything at any point.
Open communication creates a sense of belonging and a feeling of being a valued team member.
Protection
PPE is vital for many industries and sectors. Since protection can take many forms, it is less defined as a pillar of well-being. Whether you run a medical department and need to have a ready supply of gloves or a construction site that requires robust safety boots for men, ensuring your employees are protected when they do their work is not only ensuring their safety but reassuring them.
Employers can enhance the well-being of their employees by implementing policies and procedures known as wellness programs. Businesses that have introduced wellness initiatives report higher productivity and lower absence rates. Wellness initiatives can also boost employee morale and engagement by reducing stress.
Offering gym memberships and psychological counseling services will convey to your staff that you are likewise concerned about their mental wellness. There will be less stigma associated with seeking psychological assistance, and your staff members will have access to mental health professionals who can support them in resolving their problems.
Additionally, to create a wellness program that works for their workforce, leadership teams can poll their employees and look into current trends in employee wellness programs.
Praise and rewards
The “human heritage” that contributes to the growth and success of your company is its workforce. You must safeguard and defend them. Make every one of your workers feel like an exceptional example of creative human talent.
An employee’s well-being greatly benefits from a performance review. Conducting a performance appraisal will provide them with an understanding of how they’re doing in their role, find areas for growth, and conduct a self-evaluation. You can offer rewards and praise them when they do well. Social events can be one way to reward the team.
Offer Benefits
Offer a package that’s genuinely beneficial. Check against the benefits your main competitor’s offer, so you know what prospective employees are looking for – this could encourage more talent to your team.
Other than this, Organizations should create clear career tracks, offer training and mentorship programs, and provide professional development opportunities to promote employee well-being.
