Employee well-being: How can we truly support our people ahead?

The global pandemic has caused unprecedented changes to our lives. For many, the work environment has dramatically evolved. As the world focuses on dealing with the health and economic repercussions of the pandemic, people are adapting to new ways of work, perhaps carrying with them a sense of uncertainty. The question is then how could we, as people leaders and as an organization, better support our employees to ensure that they are at their best?

In these challenging times, our utmost priority at Philips has been on our triple duty of care – to our employees, our customers and our business, and at the top of that agenda is the fundamental need to protect the mental and physical wellbeing of our employees. 

Staying connected

The new norm of working from home has suddenly become an ‘always-on’, 24/7 unless we consciously remove ourselves from our devices. It is easy to neglect our own health while juggling work and family commitments, something that I myself have been guilty of.

A shift in behavior from both leaders and employees was in order, and we saw the need to educate and closely support employees in building their resilience in these times. We started small, advocating the simple act of shortening 60-minute meetings to 45 to allow breathers between meetings. Our leaders arranged virtual coffees with their team, where talking shop was out-of-bounds. Instead, it was a time to share learnings and take strength from each other; to inspire, refresh and re-energize.

It was extraordinary to see the unprecedented enthusiasm and increased engagement from our employees as we learned more about each other. Our people bonded over photos of our day at work, applauded our colleagues who were #everydayheroes, and shared stories of how we could be #allintogether on our internal company platform. The action was simple – the results were huge. It brought us all closer as we learned to listen better, connect better and empathize better. 

Building mental, emotional and physical resilience

Never has our sense of purpose to make lives better been stronger, and that has in turn strengthened our own emotional health and well-being. To keep the ‘happy hormones’ going, our wellness team curated easy-to-follow play-on-demand home exercise routines. Our people embraced virtual yoga sessions, completing the Sun Salutation from the comfort of their own homes.

We also recognized that active listening in difficult times may require a trained ear. For Philips employees and their families who may be experiencing anxiety, frustration or burnout, an anonymous 24/7 Employee Assistance Program hotline was available for assistance from professional counsellors. This service also included Manager Assist; a tool designed for managers who wish to seek confidential advice.

Turning our focus to mental resilience, the team curated dedicated programs on the wellness of the mind and even meditation, to help employees channel their thoughts and emotions in these times of uncertainty and change. We also implemented several initiatives to increase productivity, including a dedicated learning portal, specially curated e-learning playlists on Philips University, and learning resources with our external partners. All these tools served to continuously sharpen the minds and skills of our people.

Managing change while looking ahead

As it comes to light that the way of work may no longer return to the state it was prior to the pandemic, there’s nothing more empowering than equipping employees with the necessary tools and strategies to continue navigating through these challenging times.

Through these initiatives, we strive to ensure every employee at Philips is supported in being their best during this time of uncertainty. As we continue engaging and listening to the needs and concerns of our employees, I’ve no doubt that we will continue to evolve and improve on our duty of care to our people.