It’s possible that your company takes pride in being a good employer. But despite having the best of intentions, the way the work is organized at your company might be having a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the employees. Many people report that their working conditions and the demands of the work environment are a significant source of stress. However, research has shown that the design of work can have significant effects on the wellbeing and health of employees, in addition to the costs associated with health care. With that in mind, read on to find out how to increase the health and happiness of your workforce.
Offer The Right Benefits
It is in the best interest of both the company and its employees to provide benefits that promote health and happiness in the workplace. Gym membership, corporate chaplains, health insurance, bike-to-work programs, and other employee discounts on everyday items are all possible perks that could apply.
Employers have made a concerted effort to provide benefits that enhance their employees’ lives outside of work. Concierge services that help employees save time or get their personal lives in order, like help with booking travel and event tickets, are growing in popularity.
Some companies may even opt to provide their employees with their own wellness portal, where they can gain access to a variety of resources and services (such as a salary reduction program, optional benefits, and a personal concierge) and get advice and tips on how to improve their own health and wellbeing.
In addition, some companies are going the extra mile to help their employees in ways that were not previously covered by employee benefits. Facebook’s egg-freezing policy is one example, as is Netflix’s unlimited paid vacation.
Give Financial Education
Offering discounts to employees is one way to help them out financially, but a person’s financial wellbeing involves more than just their paycheck. Knowledge is power, and more and more companies are realizing the importance of investing in their employees’ education as a means of helping them save money.
Budgeting, childcare, debt, travel funds, and wedding planning are just some of the areas where education can help people of all income levels make the most of their money. The more your business can do to ensure your team understands their own personal – and specific finances – the more productive they will be, and the more motivated, not to mention they will feel better both emotionally and mentally.
Provide Mental Health Support
Employers can help their employees with their mental health in a number of ways. Mental health issues affect many people, and it’s important for businesses to provide their employees with the resources they need to cope as well as the education they need to understand and address the stigma that still surrounds talking about them. This may involve anything from a simple awareness-raising campaign to in-depth training for managers on how to recognize and respond to symptoms.
Again, a variety of choices exist in terms of equipping workers with the resources they need to handle any problems that may arise. Mindfulness, a technique popular in Silicon Valley and backed by scientific evidence, is thought to help people relax, sharpen their concentration, and become more invested in their work. According to a recent meta-analysis published in the Journal of Management, even just three minutes a day of mindfulness practice can have a significant impact on an individual’s emotional and psychological health.
Another useful resource is employee assistance programs, which offer guidance and assistance to workers and their loved ones. EAPs continue to be one of the most effective methods for addressing stress and anxiety on the job, and more and more companies are including EAPs as part of a broader wellbeing strategy.
Encourage Physical Health Improvement
Incorporating a few simple, practical steps and initiatives can go a long way toward improving employees’ physical health, which is a crucial component of overall wellbeing. Whether it’s by hosting nutritionists who can talk to workers about the link between diet and health, setting aside “nap rooms” for employees to take a quick nap during the workday, setting up team-building activities like team sports, or simply giving everyone an extra day off around the holidays, there are many things that employers can do to help their workers maintain their mental and physical wellbeing.
There is a growing concern among employers about presenteeism, which occurs when workers show up for work despite being unprepared physically or mentally. Eighty-six percent of businesses have experienced the problem of employees showing up sick to work since 2010, says the CIPD. Providing flexible working hours or encouraging sick employees to stay home can go a long way toward minimizing these types of problems.
Create A Comfortable Work Environment
The health and happiness of your staff members could be significantly improved by providing a workplace that is less stressful and more accommodating to their needs. The release of oxygen into the air and the absorption of carbon dioxide by indoor plants, for example, are two factors that contribute to improved ventilation in the workplace. According to research, an increase in the quality of the air that employees breathe at work could boost productivity by as much as 11 percent.
A workplace that is devoid of clutter is another potential aid. It’s estimated that the typical office worker wastes 4.3 hours per week looking for papers like files, folders, important documents, and other similar items, which can lead to increased levels of stress.
Help Everyone Look Out For One Another
Train both yourself and your team to recognize the warning signs of burnout as soon as they appear. A prolonged response to stress can lead to burnout. The body’s cortisol levels go up when we’re under stress, which also makes us more alert. Even though this can be helpful in potentially life-threatening circumstances, it can be detrimental to our bodies if it occurs too frequently or for too long.
The symptoms of burnout can manifest in both the body and the mind. People might feel physically drained, lose their appetite, and have trouble falling or staying asleep. People have a constant tendency to worry about things, which makes it difficult for them to concentrate. Additionally, people may appear more irritable and emotionally distant.
Keep an eye out for signs of burnout in your coworkers and bring up any concerns as soon as possible. Staff members should be encouraged to seek help early on, and training on mental health should be provided so that staff members can support one another. Pay attention to employees who appear to be under a lot of stress, and have an honest conversation with them to determine whether or not they are in danger of becoming burned out.
Build Trust
As a manager, it’s your job to take care of the people who work for you. Before you can take care of your staff, you need to earn their trust. A culture of trust lets people on a team be honest and show their weaknesses. Make your staff feel like they can talk about any worries they may have in a safe way. Make sure your team knows it’s okay to talk about mental health and that they will be heard and supported if they do.
Check in with each team member on a regular basis to see how they’re doing and see if they need more help. Ask open-ended questions like “How is your week going?” or “How are you doing with work right now?”
Build trust by responding to employees’ concerns as soon as you know about them. For instance, if a team member is at risk of burnout, tell them to take a break and rest, as mentioned above.
Good managers also often celebrate successes and give people rewards for what they’ve done well. Rewards can be money, but they can also be as simple as showing that you appreciate what each person and the team did. Reward and praise make everyone feel like they are important.
Manage Workloads
Burnout is often caused by having too much to do. Managers have a clear responsibility to help their teams handle their workloads and focus on the most important tasks. As a team, you should agree on your top priorities and what you do best. Take off the to-do list any tasks that aren’t important to the team.
Meeting fatigue is another common source of pain. Help your team cut down on meetings that aren’t necessary by being clear about the goals of each one. With the rise of online meetings, there are now new problems to deal with. Meeting fatigue can be greatly reduced if people know how to run productive meetings.
Set A Good Example
Managers are responsible for establishing and enforcing policies regarding appropriate conduct and social interaction within the group. Take care of yourself and set an example for others to follow. Keep a good separation between your work life and your personal life. Time your exit from the office. Never send an email on the weekend. Make it clear that employees are not expected to respond to emails before or after business hours.
Take time off and breaks from work on a regular basis and push your team to do the same. Discussing issues related to mental health encourages others to do the same; tell them what you do to keep stress at bay.
Managers may also benefit from leadership development opportunities, such as learning how to have open conversations about mental health with their teams.