National Workplace Wellbeing Day will take place on April 29, 2022. Building a sustainable, long-term approach to health and wellbeing has never been so important, as the world of work continues to evolve following the Covid-19 crisis.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of mental health for employers and employees alike. However, even pre-pandemic research identified that employee mental health problems were costing UK businesses between £33 billion and £42 billion a year, and a huge £100 billion for the economy overall.
What Is Employee Wellbeing?
Many employers only focus on employees’ health benefits when it comes to employee wellbeing. However, employee wellbeing is much more than just the absence of physical illness among employees – it also refers to the state of employees’ physical and mental health.
The Benefits Of Employee Wellbeing
- Reduces workplace stress
- Decreases absenteeism
- Increase productivity
- Improves engagement
- Higher employee retention
4 Ways To Promote Wellbeing In The Workplace
1. Make appraisals a part of your company culture
One of the easiest ways to initiate employee wellbeing is to recognise your employees for their contributions at work. A recent survey revealed that 70% of employees stated that recognition makes them feel emotionally connected to their workmates. The impact of a recognition focused work environment cannot be underestimated. A ‘thank you’ note or a few words of appreciation can go a long way.
2. Encourage employees to practice mindfulness
Various research has shown that mindfulness is a powerful way to reduce stress in the workplace and promote staff wellbeing. Invest in affordable employee wellbeing programs and, where possible, let your employees be mindful at work. This could include physical activities, fewer distractions, meditation, single-tasking, etc.
3. Enable continuous learning
The value of continuous learning increases the knowledge and skillset among employees and increases employee satisfaction, makes the workplace more collaborative, and increases employee engagement.
Showing your employees that you care for their growth can improve employee morale and productivity while reducing turnover.
4. Promote mental health awareness
The World Health Organisation stated that more than 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression. This means many workplaces will have employees who suffer from mental health problems. One of the most efficient methods to promote employee wellness at your workplace is by offering mental health awareness programs or offering employees mental health benefits.
If you need instant advice on handling performance management of employee wellbeing, contact our team today. Telephone from NI: 028 71 271 882, or from ROI: 01 695 0749. Alternatively, contact us via email: hello@hrteamgroup.com
