6 Strategies to Improve Employee Wellbeing At Work
A workplace that takes care of employee wellbeing is one that employees want to work in. Here's how you can take steps to improve employee wellbeing at work.
Most employees spend most of their waking lives at work. Given how much time they dedicate to work, it should be a given that employers need to give employees more than just money to keep them happy at work.
Aside from reasonable wages, it is also important to improve employee wellbeing in the workplace. After all, a happy worker is a productive one.
But what exactly is employee wellbeing, and how do you ensure that your workplace adequately addresses it?
What is employee wellbeing?
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Employee wellbeing refers to the state of your employee's mental and physical health, as a result of the dynamics within (and sometimes outside) the workplace.
In other words, it's about asking yourself the question: "does my staff have what they need in order to do their best work? Are they happy and satisfied when they come into work?"
The importance of improving employee wellbeing
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According to a study conducted by the University of Warwick, wellbeing in the workplace results in a 12% growth in productivity. Other benefits that come with improving employee wellbeing in the workplace include:
- Improved job satisfaction
- Positive work culture
- Better teamwork and cooperation
- Lower turnover rates
Furthermore, a workplace that has a focus on employee wellbeing is a more attractive place to both current and prospective employees. This is especially so in recent times, where more and more people are placing more importance on looking for workplaces that value and care for them.
Without strategies to maintain and improve employee wellbeing, your employees are more likely to be unhappy, unmotivated and unproductive.
6 Strategies to improve employee wellbeing in your workplace
So, here are some measures you can take to make your workplace is a more pleasant environment to work in.
Create a comfortable work environment
A comfortable work environment can contribute greatly to employee wellbeing by making them feel less tense and less stressed.
While "comfortable" can be a rather subjective term, the Fellowes Workplace Wellness Trend Report shows that 87% of workers would like their employers to offer workplace benefits such as wellness rooms, sit-stands, ergonomic seating and more.
Furthermore, as we spend much of our working life in the office, it is important for employers to provide a workspace that is conducive to work -- one that facilitates collaboration and teamwork, but also has options for quiet and privacy.
Give recognition for good work
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Drawing on the PERMA model of wellbeing, providing meaning and accomplishment is crucial for your employees to flourish in the workplace. Giving them recognition for good work can contribute to that.
If your employees are feeling unappreciated, their happiness levels at work may drop and they might feel less motivated to produce quality work.
Furthermore, incorporating employee recognition into your company culture boosts employee morale, increases job satisfaction and makes them feel more dedicated to their work.
Encourage & support personal development
Personal growth and development is another facet of employee wellbeing that isn't talked about enough. Personal development is not only about gaining new skills to flourish at work, but to flourish in their personal lives as well.
To improve employee wellbeing, you should encourage your staff to constantly improve themselves. More than that, you may even take an extra step and cultivate a culture of learning in your workplace.
Implementing cross-departmental training programs, providing more avenues for teamwork and mentorship, and providing feedback are just some ways you can show support and provide more opportunities for your employees' personal development.
This helps your employees feel supported in their endeavors, and also allows you to develop a constantly-improving and skilled workforce.
Boost team relationships.
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Humans are social creatures, and forming supportive relationships in the workplace is crucial for your employees' wellbeing.
A close-knit team can make a whole world of difference when it comes to happiness in the workplace and a positive work culture. It supports a fun and sociable environment, and allows employees to become more resilient in the face of hardship. Furthermore, it also boosts teamwork and cooperation, thereby driving productivity.
To boost team relationships among your employees, you need to provide more opportunities for team bonding. Consider implementing more team building activities as well as informal get-togethers like lunches or evenings out.
Encourage self-care
Employee burnout is a growing problem, and one that employers need to start addressing. One such way to address and prevent burnout in your workplace is by encouraging your employees to incorporate self-care into their routine.
It is important to encourage your employees to take frequent breaks and destress during and after office hours. You can also provide them with resources that facilitate self care, such as Journey, a digital diary app.
You should also start to pay more attention to the mental wellbeing of your employees, and intervene before they get burned out. Consider bringing Asa into your workplace – an AI that allows you to monitor your employees' moods anonymously, so that you can take action before it's too late.
Upon the first clock in of the day, Asa will prompt your employees to check in their mood as well. Asa will then collate these results and generate a mood chart for your viewing, while still keeping your employees anonymous.
Accept regular feedback
To cultivate a workplace that seeks to improve employee wellbeing, it's important to accept regular feedback from your employees. Despite your best intentions. some measures may fall flat and others may need improvement.
Consider using surveys to get more feedback from your employees. They are the best judge of what needs to improve, change or stay in order to improve their wellbeing. However, they may not feel comfortable speaking their mind if you speak with them in person, which is why creating and using surveys is a great alternative.
With Asa, you can generate and disseminate monthly or weekly surveys to find out what your employees think. To ensure full transparency, you can even receive feedback from your employees anonymously.
Accepting feedback and making the necessary changes is important if you wish to create a workplace that is continuously improving for the sake of your employees' wellbeing.
An employer that values their employees' wellbeing is one that employees respect and will remain loyal to. It's time to move past antiquated practices that value productivity above all, and start helping your workers thrive instead!