10 Best Strategies for Employee Well-being
How is employee well-being holding up in today’s companies? Unsurprisingly, employees are discontent, which affects their overall well-being. Unhappiness has been steadily increasing on a global scale over the past decade.
According to a Mental Health Report, 58% of individuals experienced work-related mental or physical stress in the past two years. Companies must enhance their efforts to make employees feel appreciated and prioritize their well-being. How do I improve employee well-being?
Let’s explore some simple strategies to cultivate a healthier and happier workspace for your team:
1. Empowerment through Work Control
Studies show that having limited control over how you do your job doesn’t just lead to poor mental health and raises the chances of heart disease. Moreover, when heavy workloads are coupled with low job control, the likelihood of diabetes and dying from heart-related issues significantly goes up. Minor changes to how much say workers have can positively impact their well-being.
For instance, a customer service call center study revealed that providing employees with extra training to handle new tasks and resolve customer issues on their own boosted their job performance and made them feel better overall.
2. Customized Resource Provision
Employees count on their companies to give them access to mental health support. Once the results of the well-being survey are received, there are two approaches HR can consider with the current services:
Refresh
Often, companies have excellent mental health resources that employees aren’t aware of. Many workers note that their company must inform them about these resources actively.
It suggests a need to reintroduce employees to what’s accessible to them. Organize informative sessions to remind them of the benefits they can use and communicate this through different channels.
Revisit
If employee feedback indicates that the available resources don’t suit the needs of your workforce, take another look at your offerings and make necessary changes.
For instance, the survey might reveal that having different days off for mandatory company-wide breaks across global offices causes issues. This situation hinders employees from truly disconnecting because someone in a separate office might still be working online and needing assistance.
3. Balanced Staffing and Workloads
Studies have discovered that excessive work requirements, such as extended working hours or pressure to work exceptionally hard or quickly, can significantly impact the health and well-being of employees.
Various types of research have shown that when demanding work situations are combined with low levels of control, it results in health risks like increased symptoms of depression, elevated blood pressure, and cardiovascular issues.
While increasing staff to distribute these demands might appear expensive, employers also face tangible consequences when tired or unwell employees experience burnout, take time off, or resign.
The solution could involve strategic staffing changes ; for instance, one study demonstrated enhanced efficiency and job satisfaction among doctors when they were provided with a trained medical scribe to assist with some of their documentation tasks.
4. Prioritizing Physical Health
In the present day, physical well-being encompasses a broader range of factors, including sleep, dietary choices, and our overall way of life. It is particularly significant because our physical well-being is our fundamental energy source. For instance, spending prolonged hours at a desk negatively affects our back and posture.
To counteract this, some companies are now introducing stand-up desks, whether in-office or for remote work. It’s becoming increasingly evident that our simple habits can extend beyond the workplace and impact our lives at home and vice versa.
Tips for Employee Physical Well-Being:
5. Career Growth and Well-Being
The pandemic unexpectedly led to layoffs that caught many off guard. While the issue of job security is not new, it has gained even more prominence in recent years. Professionals are seeking assurance that their dedication will result in stable employment and opportunities for career growth. The second crucial aspect of employee well-being is their career well-being.
One way is by cultivating an environment that champions internal promotions.
Nevertheless, internal promotions ensure that organizational knowledge is retained and employees can adapt to their new roles faster than external hires. Opting for internal promotions signifies your recognition of the value your existing employees bring.
Employee Career Well-Being Tips
6. Enhancing Financial Wellness
Finances are a primary source of employee stress, outweighing the combined impact of job, health, and relationship concerns. The current inflationary trends affecting necessities like housing, fuel, and groceries have amplified worries about annual earnings.
The discrepancy between stagnant income and rising living costs introduces financial unease, which can sidetrack focus. Employees tend to perform better when they move beyond the “survival mode” mentality, although this experience varies due to diverse lifestyles
However, the influence of finances on well-being is not a recent development; it’s been present even before the current inflation. Despite its sensitive nature, addressing financial matters is crucial for employees and employers.
Tips for Employee Financial Well-Being:
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7. Nurturing Social Connections
Relationships hold a pivotal role in our happiness, both personally and professionally. Social well-being, encompassing the establishment, growth, and sustenance of meaningful connections with others, holds greater significance than we often realize.
Creating a sense of community in the workplace has enhanced employee productivity. Companies can foster communities based on shared interests within the organization. Offering paid time off for volunteering events or local gatherings also encourages colleagues to unite.
Whether a company operates in-office, follows a hybrid model, or is fully remote, prioritizing workers’ social well-being is crucial. Validation and social support from colleagues positively impact employees’ morale.
Employee Social Well-Being Tips:
8. Prioritizing Mental Health
In today’s era of social media, businesses gain greater insight into the daily challenges faced by their employees. This allows companies to shift their focus from organizational matters to individual human experiences.
One way to do this is by providing company-wide well-being days, enabling employees to recharge. This, in turn, results in a more fulfilled and engaged workforce upon their return.
These well-being days also contribute to work-life balance by recognizing the importance of employees’ personal lives. Alarming statistics indicate that 66% of employees feel their work-life balance is lacking, exacerbated by the blurred lines of remote and hybrid work. This imbalance can hamper performance and lead to burnout.
To address this, leaders should not just support but also establish boundaries for their teams. It’s vital for companies to avoid normalizing an “always-on” culture, and messages sent during off-hours should not demand immediate attention.
Employee Mental Well-Being Tips:
9. Cultivating a Sense of Purpose
Purpose holds significance for employees and is integral to their overall well-being. Alongside “The Great Resignation,” a term also coined as “The Great Reflection,” professionals are contemplating the meaning of their work. Employees now seek profound purpose in their jobs, as the pandemic prompts them to reassess how they invest their time and effort.
However, discovering purpose at work isn’t confined to an employee’s role. 82% of professionals emphasize the importance of their company having a sense. Feeling that one is making a meaningful impact serves as a strong motivator.
Employee Purpose Well-Being Advice:
10. Creating a Sense of Belonging
Cultivating a sense of social belonging need not be intricate or costly. In a study involving 911 dispatchers—an occupation marked by high stress, burnout, and turnover rates—supervisors sent a weekly email encouraging dispatchers to offer mutual support by sharing uplifting anecdotes from their work experiences.
These emails recounted instances where dispatchers successfully aided callers in crisis. Those who received these emails and engaged in sharing such stories experienced a significant decline in burnout and were 50% less likely to consider quitting.
These instances underscore that numerous management practices aimed at enhancing employee well-being concurrently benefit employers. This alignment is unsurprising.
In the long term, companies that prioritize their employees’ health and well-being are more inclined to have a workforce that reciprocates care for the company’s overall health and well-being. This outcome aligns with the aspirations of influential leaders.
Similar Article: 4 Ways These Companies are Transforming Employees’ Experience
In a Nutshell
Every organization should make sure their employees are taken care of. Employers must ensure that employees have a good balance between work and personal life, are happy with their work setup, and have what they need to do well. Companies prioritizing their employees’ well-being are more likely to do well in the long run.
Companies should create a positive work atmosphere where employees can do their best. Employees should feel comfortable and excited to come to work. Managers should also be there to listen and help if employees have any problems.
Recognizing and prioritizing employee well-being isn’t just a matter of ethics – it’s a strategic investment that leads to higher job satisfaction, retention, and overall organizational success.
Boost Employee Well-Being With QuickFMS
At QuickFMS, we offer a range of benefits, including real-time space utilization tracking and ensuring efficient space allocation. Its safety modules enhance workplace security, while amenity management tools streamline resource allocation. Seamless communication tools promote collaboration and employee engagement, contributing to a positive work culture. Contact us to empower your workspace now.
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