How to improve wellbeing in the workplace

In the UK, only 37% of employees indicate having a good emotional wellbeing. Approximately one in eight employees are experiencing subpar levels of wellbeing, affecting financial, physical, emotional, and social dimensions.

In today's fast-paced and demanding work environments, prioritizing employee wellbeing has become essential. 9 in 10 workers say they feel more motivated at their job if their employers support wellbeing in the workplace.

Companies that foster a positive and supportive workplace culture not only promote the overall happiness and mental health of their employees but also drive productivity and success.  

But how exactly do we define employee wellbeing and how can you improve it?  

We’re breaking down wellbeing into 5 pillars of social, mental, physical, financial and professional wellbeing, whilst providing you with tools to improve within each category.

Social wellbeing

Social wellbeing is the importance of meaningful human connections within the workplace. Research says that employees who lack meaningful connection at work are 9 times more likely to be disengaged in their tasks and 3 times more likely to go looking for another job.  

It’s important to create a good and supportive community at work which makes the workspace more comfortable and daily tasks more enjoyable. According to a recent Harvard study good human connections are equally as important for one’s health as regular exercise. By having a friendly team, workers will be happier and more productive as work friendships boost employee satisfaction by 50%.  

Organising team days with fun activities, creating a casual setting to hang out and celebrating wins are excellent methods of creating a better community. It’s important to prioritise one-on-one time for employees to simply chat and get to know each other better, this is even more important when working remotely as colleagues don’t see each other daily. Workplace platforms like Microsoft Teams or Slack are great places to easily chat and keep in touch with colleagues even if you’re not in the same office.  

Mental wellbeing

Promoting mental health initiatives is vital for employee wellbeing as 1 in 6 people experience mental health problems in the workplace and around 800 000 employees suffer from work-related stress, depression or anxiety every year.  

By offering resources such as mental health workshops and services it creates a safe and inclusive space where your employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health without fear of judgement. Except for this simply being the right thing to do, businesses do profit from investing in their employee's wellbeing as happy workers are 13% more productive.

Mental health support is becomes more accessible when using online platforms and apps, such as Oliva. Oliva is a platform that offers therapy sessions, support and online mental fitness classes to improve employee mental wellbeing. Other apps like Headspace and Calm offer meditation and calming stories to help people relax and feel better after a long day at work.  

When signing up as a Company For Good on Jobs For Good you now get a discount off Oliva.  

Physical wellbeing

Physical wellbeing is equally as important as our mental wellbeing and is an essential part of overall wellbeing. It’s important to encourage your employees to engage in regular physical activity. A study from Aviva found that 58% of employees neglect their physical health due to stress at work.  

There are multiple ways to go about promoting physical wellbeing in the workplace, from organising wellness challenges to creating ergonomic workstations or accepting flexible working to accommodate finding time in the day to move your body. A simple step is organising breaks for stretching or a walk to catch up with colleagues. This provides employees with more energy and motivation. 80% of employees who work for companies that engage in their wellness say they enjoy going to work.  

Employers can promote physical wellbeing by offering health benefits such as discounts for gyms, an online fitness platform or using the app Sunlight where employees can spend money on what they believe is essential to better their work life. These services are even more important when working remotely.  

Financial wellbeing

Financial wellbeing is about feeling secure and confident in how your income can provide for you, which is even more important in the current financial state of the world. 60% of all UK adults are finding it a burden to keep up with their bills, this is an increase of 6 million people compared to 2020.  

The first step for businesses is to keep up with the pay regulations according to ongoing changes. For example, the living wage in the UK rose by a record-breaking 10.1% in 2022 and companies need to alter their wages accordingly for their employees to live comfortably. Secondly, employers can offer benefits such as free healthcare, pension, sick pay and, if needed, flexible working. Flexible working could be great for commuting employees, who will save money on not having to travel daily or certain times.  

Financial wellbeing in the workplace could be tough to navigate. Fortunately, there are platforms out there to help businesses be fair to their employees, such as Bippit and Wagestream.  

Professional wellbeing  

Professional wellbeing, being happy, comfortable and healthy in doing your work, is incredibly important and if not fulfilled has consequences. 1 in 3 workers believe they are less productive in work due to a bad work-life balance.  

Encouraging a good work-life balance, better work environments and nurturing personal development are key methods of improving professional wellbeing. It’s also important to offer opportunities for training, workshops, and skill-building programs.  

Additionally, doing work that matters provides more satisfaction. Listen to employees and discover if they are looking to expand into other fields or have a desire of learning additional skills within the company. By having engaged employees you’ll be 21% more profitable and 17% more productive.

Summary

Prioritizing employee wellbeing is a win-win for both employees and organizations. By implementing these strategies, companies can create a positive work environment that fosters happiness, productivity, and overall success.  

Want to know what else you can do to become a better employer? Read about How to create a great candidate experience and the Top 10 best employee benefits in 2023.  

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