Back to Human: Best Practices for Engagement, Inclusion, and Well-being in Organizations

It is easy for organizations to lose sight of their most important assets? — people. While we are undergoing great digital transformation within the ever-changing market, it has simultaneously become both timely and crucial for us to focus on the human dimensions of our working space.

Engagement, inclusion, and well-being are just the latest buzzwords that have become deeply interwoven into a genuinely celebratory workplace culture that appreciates its people and realizes them as persons.

Fostering Engagement

Personalized Communication: One size does not fit all when it comes to communication. Recognizing individual achievements and addressing employees on a personal level can significantly boost morale and engagement. Tailored emails, shout-outs in team meetings, and personalized development plans are just a few ways to make your employees feel valued and understood.

Career Development Opportunities: Providing employees with opportunities to grow and advance in their careers is a powerful motivator. Whether through in-house training programs, external workshops, or clear career pathways, showing your team that you invest in their future pays dividends in their engagement and loyalty.

Feedback Culture: A culture that embraces feedback is one that thrives. Encouraging open and honest communication, where feedback is regularly sought, given, and constructively received, fosters a sense of belonging and continuous improvement. This two-way street ensures that employees feel heard and that the organization can adapt and evolve based on genuine insights from its workforce.

Enhancing Inclusion

Diverse Hiring Practices: Diversity in the workplace starts with how you hire. Expanding your recruitment efforts to reach a broader range of candidates ensures a mix of perspectives and experiences, enriching the workplace culture and driving innovation.

Inclusive Policies and Practices: Inclusion goes beyond hiring. Implementing policies that cater to the needs of all employees, including flexible working arrangements, parental leave, and accommodations for disabilities, creates an environment where everyone can thrive.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): ERGs play a crucial role in giving a voice to diverse groups within an organization. These groups not only provide support and advocacy for their members but also offer valuable insights into how the organization can better serve its diverse workforce.

Prioritizing Well-being

Mental Health Support: Mental health is an integral part of overall well-being. Providing access to mental health resources, such as counseling services or mental health days, demonstrates a commitment to the holistic health of your employees.

Flexible Working Arrangements: The traditional 9-to-5 is not conducive to everyone's productivity or well-being. Offering flexible working hours or the option to work from home can help employees manage their work-life balance, leading to happier and more productive teams.

Physical Health Programs: Encouraging physical health through gym memberships, wellness challenges, or ergonomic workspaces shows that you care about your employees' well-being beyond the office. A healthy employee is a happy and efficient one.

As we look towards the future of work, it's clear that the organizations that thrive will be those that put their people first. By focusing on engagement, inclusion, and well-being, we can create workplace cultures that not only attract the best talent but also retain them by making them feel valued, included, and cared for. It's time to go back to human and recognize that our strength lies in our diversity, our well-being, and our engagement with one another.

Gisela Ventura

Head of People