Recognising Your People: How To Improve Health and Wellbeing at Work
Worryingly, 91% of UK adults experienced high levels of pressure or stress in the past year, leading to one in five workers needing to take time off work. Not only does this negatively impact their companies in terms of productivity and finances, but the individuals themselves will also be impacted at work and home.
So how can this be improved? Well, working conditions and job demands can put a lot of pressure on people, causing them unnecessary stress and eventually, burnout. This is why it’s crucial for employers to support their people and improve employees’ health and wellbeing. Fortunately, there are plenty of strategies that can be implemented to do just that.
Keep reading to find out how to lift up your staff and ensure they’re happy at work. Not only because it’s your responsibility as an employer, but because there are many benefits that will follow!
How does wellbeing affect performance at work?
If an employee’s health and wellbeing are poor, it can negatively impact them in many ways, from mental health issues and low morale to illness and physical exhaustion. Naturally, this will negatively impact performance at work, as they’re not able to reach their full potential.
On the other hand, when people are happy and thriving, they’ll usually put more effort into their jobs and perform better overall. It doesn’t stop there either! Businesses that improve health and wellbeing in the workplace can also benefit from the following:
- Higher motivation and productivity levels
- Vibrant workplace culture
- Fewer sick days
- Attracting top talent
- Increased creativity and problem-solving
- Better working relationships
- Higher quality work and fewer mistakes
- Better employee engagement
- Improved retention and lower staff turnover
And many more! But it’s also important to remember that boosting work health and wellbeing is about much more than just improving business performance. It’s about helping your people flourish and ensuring that they have the support and tools they need. If you don’t focus on these key areas, you’re at high risk of losing team members as they’ll look for a more supportive work environment. Nearly 80% of UK employees would quit their jobs due to high levels of stress and lack of mental health support. Don’t get left behind, check out our top five strategies below and start boosting your people in ways that truly matter!
5 strategies to enhance health & wellbeing at work
Implementing new strategies and updating processes in the workplace can be stressful, especially if you don’t know where to start. But fear not, we’ve shared five clear steps below to help you effectively boost health and wellbeing in the workplace. With the help of your managers and senior employees, you can start bringing these insights to life and watching your people and business thrive. Enjoy!
1. Create a flexible working environment
If you want to boost productivity, engagement and retention then it’s definitely time to try flexible working. By empowering your employees to work in ways that suit them and giving them more freedom to do so, you’ll help them thrive both personally and professionally.
If we’ve learned anything it’s that one size does not fit all! Some team members may be at their most productive in the office first thing in the morning, while others may benefit more from less commuting and a quieter workspace at home. Whatever their preferences, introducing flexible hours and remote or hybrid working allows your employees to optimise their work routines, meaning they’ll be more productive and motivated.
Flexibility also enables employees to get a better work-life balance as they can fit their jobs around personal commitments and interests like dropping the kids off at school or going to the gym. It may seem counterproductive, but when you give your team members the freedom to step away from their work when needed and trust them to get their work done without micro-managing, you’ll see that productivity increases.
Never underestimate the power of appreciation! We all like to feel seen and recognised for the things we do, and your employees are no different. That said, 70% of employees highlight the importance of recognition, but less than half report receiving regular recognition from their managers. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways you can ensure your team doesn’t feel the same!
By introducing rewards and recognition initiatives, you can significantly enhance employee health and wellbeing by fostering a positive work environment. Here are a few ways to boost your team:
2. CHAMPION REWARDS & RECOGNITION
- Recognition solutions: giving your employees access to a peer-to-peer recognition scheme where they can say thank you to each other and highlight achievements is a great way to bring your team together and ensure they get the appreciation they deserve.
- Rewards: meaningful rewards for a job well done go a long way when it comes to wellbeing. Whether you offer gift cards, points-based rewards, or bonuses, rewarding your people will encourage them to strive for more which benefits them and your business!
- Special awards: take note of milestones such as work anniversaries and birthdays and consider marking them with a gift such as a voucher to enjoy spending or a paid day off. This will show your team you care about them and give them a real sense of satisfaction.
3. Offer training and development opportunities
If you want to get the best out of your employees, you should be supporting their career development and providing opportunities to develop their skills. By helping your people grow professionally and up-skill, you’ll boost their confidence and improve job satisfaction. In turn, this can reduce work-related stress and increase their sense of accomplishment, both of which massively increase overall wellbeing!
Worried about the cost of training? We get it. But employee development, such as courses and training workshops, is an investment worth making. If you understand your employees’ needs and aspirations, you can provide them with the tools they need to flourish in their jobs, increasing productivity and loyalty as they build a stronger relationship with your business. If that wasn’t reason enough, it’s also worth remembering that the cost of losing employees due to lack of growth and re-hiring is far more costly than training your current team and retaining them. It really does pay to look after your people!
To boost employee wellbeing, you need to lift your people up in as many areas of their lives as possible. This means supporting your people both personally and professionally to help them feel their best. There are plenty of ways you can do this, whether it’s encouraging a healthy work-life balance, providing mental health support, making accommodations for personal commitments or tailoring benefits to suit specific employee needs.
By getting to know your team members, you can support them in ways that truly make a difference. This will not only build a better relationship with them, but it’ll show that you care about them as more than just people on your payroll. As a result, you’ll drive engagement, loyalty and morale amongst your team which will benefit everyone!
4. Support employees’ personal needs
5. Encourage communication and collaboration
Did you know that 70% of employees highlight the importance of emotional connections in the workplace? This stems from the innate need for recognition and acceptance from those around us. As an employer, you can support your employees’ needs by fostering a culture of appreciation and collaboration, encouraging team members to connect. This will help people feel part of something special, boosting satisfaction, productivity and morale along the way!
The best way to bring your team together is to improve communication and create opportunities for them to collaborate. When there’s important company news or updates, share the information with your whole team across a range of channels like email and intranet. This will ensure people are kept in the loop, creating a sense of openness and transparency. Along with communicating about news, it’s important to inform your staff about their benefits. If people don’t know what they have access to, they won’t be boosted by the fantastic perks available to them!
Promote health & wellbeing IN THE WORKPLACE: The ultimate employee benefits package
Boosting employee health and wellbeing needn’t be complicated. With the right tools and support in place, you can help your team thrive personally and professionally. That’s where a tailored employee benefits package comes in! Once you’ve identified what your team needs and the perks that will really make a difference in their lives, you can align your benefits offering accordingly.
If you need any help with choosing the right benefits or refreshing your existing ones, why not get in touch today or book a free demo? We have over 20 years of experience helping businesses step up their employee perks and tailoring them to suit their people.
We’re ready to boost your employees. Are you?
