Workplace Wellness

With NC State University's Wellness Day today and the start of another fall semester and academic year, as well as a change in seasons, it is an important time of year to take stock of how we are doing and feeling regarding our wellbeing, and most importantly, the wellbeing of our team. This includes mental health, physical health, and work/life balance. Wellbeing is more than just how we are feeling. It is a holistic approach to how we experience our lives.

According to Gallup’s State of the Workplace: 2023 Report, “Although employee engagement is rising, the majority of the world's workers are still quiet quitting. An improving job market may encourage those workers to quit for real.” Why does employee wellbeing research matter? Gallup’s Global Indicator: Employee Wellbeing states, “Thriving employees fuel a thriving workplace -- and when employees are struggling, experiencing negative emotions or feeling burned out, your organization can suffer.” According to the report, only 35% of employees are thriving, while 56% of employees are struggling, with 9% of employees suffering. That’s nearly two thirds of employees that are either struggling or suffering.

So how do we assess, address, and prioritize our employees’ wellbeing? Start with an honest conversation with your employees. You can also use survey instruments such as Gallup’s Q12 survey. The Top 6 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure employee wellbeing include:

1. Employee Satisfaction.
2. Employee Retention.
3. Employee Motivation.
4. Management Satisfaction.
5. Peer Satisfaction.
6. Work Environment.

Having a baseline measure of your employees’ and team’s wellbeing is absolutely critical as a manager. Failure to do so can result in burnout, a toxic culture, and unnecessary turnover.

We are fortunate at NC State University to have a comprehensive Wolfpack Wellness program dedicated to cultivating and promoting a culture of wellness for students, faculty and staff. Refer to the wide variety of resources available for our employees through this program, including our Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) through Employee Relations, especially for employees who may be struggling or suffering.

In order for an employee to thrive, it’s important to focus on a holistic approach to work and life. NC State’s Six Elements of Wellness are directly linked to Gallup’s research on Wellbeing and include the following:

• Purpose - Engage in meaningful and satisfying work that aligns with your personal values and goals.
• Physical - Manage your health with a balanced, nutritious diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep.
• Financial - Save and spend wisely to manage your financial resources and meet your basic needs.
• Emotional - Cope with challenges and meet your emotional needs while developing overall resiliency.
• Social - Cultivate new and existing relationships to build a robust, supportive network.
• Community - Contribute your passions and strengths to foster a safe and supportive environment for all.

In closing, we are all in this together! It’s up to each and every one of us, especially managers, to look out for each other and help each other along our wellness journeys. Ask yourself, “What can I do today to help my employees?” As Rudyard Kipling said, “For the strength of the Wolf is the Pack, and the strength of the Pack is the Wolf.”

Dave Herpy serves as Extension Organizational Development Coordinator at NC State University in Raleigh, NC, where he is responsible for developing and implementing professional and leadership development programs for a workforce of over 1,000 employees with NC Cooperative Extension Service, working in collaboration with their Extension leadership team.? He is also an NC State Wellness Champion and competitive triathlete.? He is passionate about helping individuals and organizations achieve their highest potential and considers himself a lifelong student of leadership.? His greatest adventure in life is being a father of four.? He has an A.A. from Lakeland Community College, a B.S. in Leisure Studies from Kent State University, and an M.S. in Recreation and Sport Science from Ohio University.