Previously, it was often considered nice to have, if a company placed a high importance on employee wellbeing and put modes of support in place for them. But now, especially as we make our way out of lockdown, it’s considered a must-have.
The absence of companies promoting their employees’ wellbeing can have a negative impact on workforces, particularly as work is one of the most common sources of stress. This can also be detrimental for the employers, which is why a study carried out by the World Health Organisation found that European organisations on average lose 140 billion pounds a year in productivity, as a result of employees struggling with mental health.
What Does Employee Wellbeing Mean?
Despite this being such a prominent part of discussions in so many forms, it can sometimes be hard to pinpoint exactly what employee wellbeing is.
Essentially, employee wellbeing relates to how someone feels about the different areas of their life – whether that be their job, their health, or their personal life.
It’s when an individual feels in control of their health, happiness and also has a strong sense of purpose.
There are some of the key components that make up good wellbeing:
- Mental health
- Physical health
- Stress management
- Emotional health
- Financial wellbeing
- Physical activity
- Professional development
- Social wellbeing
At work, an employee’s wellbeing is inherently correlated to how they feel about their job and the work they’re doing.
What Can Influence Staff Wellbeing in the Workplace?
As employees spend most of their time working, the environment, operation and structure of an organisation can greatly impact the wellbeing of the employee’s within it.
The factors of a workplace that can directly impact wellbeing include:
- Environment – Workplace temperature, office comfort and access to natural light
- Physical – Activity, nutrition, lifestyle and hygiene
- Social – Relationships with managers and colleagues, collaboration with others, communication, policies (fairness over pay and promotion decisions) and HR management
- Psychological – Stress, opportunity to learn and develop, autonomy, purpose, goals and rest
The Importance of Looking After Employees’ Wellbeing
There are many benefits of workplace wellbeing for organisations. It leads to increased staff satisfaction, higher levels of morale for teams, a deeper sense of community and loyalty to the company, reducing absenteeism in the process. Ultimately, these factors significantly impact productivity at work.
Creating a culture of workplace wellbeing will mean guiding and supporting employees to adopt and practise healthy behaviours at work. When a company is able to successfully cultivate this, it’s much more likely to be an innovative and successful organisation.
Employees are every organisation’s best asset. Investing in their wellbeing with adequate resources, time and support will enable them to feel truly valued. And when an individual knows they’re valued by their employer, it’s much easier to engage and motivate them, and put them in the best state to produce high-quality work. In prioritising employees’ wellbeing, organisations can also benefit so that every party thrives together.
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