Investing in employee wellbeing brings numerous benefits to businesses, from employee retention to increased productivity and a higher bottom line.
Before the pandemic, improving employee wellbeing implies providing people with comfortable working spaces. Employers will hire interior design experts to tweak the work environment and pick comfortable chairs and desks to ensure everyone has a good posture. And while proper posture is important for employees’ physical health, wellbeing is much more than how people sit at the desk.
Nowadays, businesses have understood that they must create workspaces where their employees can thrive because their wellbeing directly impacts their performance. Employee wellbeing is a concept that encompasses the overall satisfaction, happiness, and health of workers within an organisation. It refers to mental, emotional, and physical health. Since the pandemic started, companies have switched their focus to employee wellbeing because research shows that it has a significant influence on a business’s bottom line and success.
Why should companies focus on employee wellness?
There are several reasons why employee wellness matters to companies. First, employees who are happy with their jobs and healthy are more productive. Businesses should strive to keep their workforce in good mental and physical health because they’ll be more motivated and engaged. Increased employee productivity leads to corporate growth and higher profits, so businesses could only benefit from it.
Additionally, when workers feel valued and supported by their employers, they are more likely to stay with the company for a longer time and even refuse other job offers. Companies should prioritise having an experienced and stable workforce because it brings numerous benefits in the long run. An experienced team means the employer doesn’t have to use resources to train new employees, and a stable workforce allows them to focus on progress and expansion rather than on recruiting talent. Employee turnover is disruptive for companies of all sizes because it generates expenses. Investing in employee wellness could increase retention and lower turnover.
And last but not least, employee satisfaction goes beyond the workforce, as it also affects the customers. Satisfied employees have better results and are more likely to provide customers with the required services. Customer loyalty is crucial for business growth, and therefore businesses should prioritise offering their public the best services possible.
How can companies improve employee wellness?
It’s obvious that employee wellbeing can bring better results to their employers. The facts are compelling enough to motivate any business to improve it. But how can one do it in the real world?
Here are some recommendations that might work.
Employees should benefit from health insurance and mental health services
Health has become people’s main concern over the last few years, so it shouldn’t be surprising that employer-sponsored health benefits are listed among the reasons why people stick with the same employer or accept a particular job offer. Companies can use the health coverage benefits they offer as an advantage to retain their workforce because not many people can afford to pay for private medical services.
And employers shouldn’t limit the benefits to physical health; they should also offer mental health benefits.
According to statistics, 84% of millennials have experienced burnout at their current job, so they prioritise mental health and are looking for employers who also do it. Businesses should search for ways to reduce the level of stress they expose their employees to. Free mental health days and free counselling sessions are among the most popular employee benefits.
Employees should work in a risk-free space
People are exposed to high levels of stress these days, and companies must make efforts to prevent overwhelming their employees. One way to alleviate work-related stress is to provide the workforce with access to a risk-free environment. Businesses should invest in building safe and secure workplaces to prevent personal injury accidents and keep their employees healthy. Besides, preventing accidents should also be a priority because when employees file for compensation or start a lawsuit against their employer, the company loses money and the public’s trust.
Employees should benefit from free gym memberships
Physical activity is an effective way to improve wellbeing, and more and more people are sweating out their worries at the gym these days. Exercising offers countless benefits, like reducing the risk of diabetes, improving mental health, enabling weight management, strengthening the muscles and bones, and improving the individuals’ ability to complete daily activities.
Bearing this in mind, employers should offer their workers the opportunity to work out when they find it suitable by offering free gym memberships. Companies with remote employees can reimburse an established sum so that workers can get a membership at their local gym.
Employees can use free wellbeing apps
People don’t feel good when their mind is in a bad place, and therefore businesses should consider offering their workforce access to wellbeing apps as part of their strategies to improve overall employee wellness. Apps allow companies to support their workers in discreetly improving their mental health.
It’s recommended to acquire subscriptions to multiple apps that allow people to address different areas of mental health.
Companies should find out how their employees feel
People don’t feel comfortable sharing their feelings at work, but they would do it if they felt empowered and supported. Companies should focus their efforts on creating work environments where vulnerability is encouraged. Team managers should discuss with team members freely and encourage them to get the necessary help if they struggle.
Employees benefit from flexible work hours
The pandemic showed employers that their workforces can be productive even out of the office. While some people might have chosen to get back to the office when the pandemic ended, others discovered they enjoy the flexibility of working remotely. Employers should be more open to offering flexible work schedules to workers because the ability to decide when they work and in what environment allows people to feel better. Additionally, employees will also feel like their employer trusts them to be productive when working unsupervised.
When businesses fail to invest in their employee’s wellbeing, they prevent themselves from enjoying extensive benefits.
