Bet on Employee Wellness

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From strengthening recruitment and retention efforts to boosting productivity, companies are enjoying the upside of maximizing their roles as innovative employee advocates. Whether organizations are leading fully in-office, hybrid, or remote work, employee wellness is something every employer can get behind because it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

What is employee wellness?

It can be easy to confuse a couple of related but very different phrases regarding the employee experience. For instance, workplace happiness, work-life balance, and even employee wellness often get mistaken for one another because they’re similar in nature. The dual responsibility between employee and employer ties all of these terms together, but what makes these unique is the attention to physical, emotional, and mental health required for each.

Employee wellness is an awareness, upkeep, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles and behaviors for your team members. But the well-being of your workers goes beyond encouraging walks during breaks and asking employees how they’re feeling throughout the week.

Companies doubling down on wellness are taking “holistic measures” to ensure that an employee’s work environment, personal health, and professional mindset are at their peak capacity for success.

Priceless practices for employee well-being

An investment in wellness for workers is a perk that benefits employers in multiple areas. And before recoiling from the thought of a steep financial commitment without a guaranteed bottom-dollar return, most practices only require a bit of verbal support and an observation of the cultural mindset you express to your current and potential employees.

A little can go a long way. Giving recognition and praise when due is one of the easiest actions that can be taken to keep employee morale high and wellness in check. Another simple but useful tactic for motivating well-being while improving employee engagement is introducing team-building exercises and educational resources to help your workforce be their best. Some companies even go so far as to urge healthy, safe, and friendly competition to strengthen culture and trust among team members.

The importance of culture in the workplace is especially magnified for remote teams. When employees work from home, managing stress and keeping a positive mindset can feel like a personal burden that sits on the backburner. Emphasizing self-care and overall well-being as a core value of your company and highlighting it through your culture is sometimes all that’s needed for employees to feel valued and prioritized.

Committing to health from all sides

A proactive approach is ideal, but it’s never too late to take up the mantle for your teams. And hey, you’re not the only one with a stake in the game. Analyzing areas for improvement isn’t just something your company needs to do, but your employees themselves. Encourage workers to take growth and accountability into their own hands with this professional checklist: 

• Do you have healthy work relationships?

Having coworkers that are more than professional acquaintances provide support and a sense of community. Workplace relationships allow team members to lean on one another for advice, encouragement, and the occasional office debriefs. 

• Do you have a “why” that motivates you each day?

Pride, potential, and purpose are strong drives for a job well done. When you feel good about your work, have confidence in growth opportunities, and are constantly reminded about what’s to be gained, work can gradually become a way of life.

• Do you match high performance with recovery time?

We can be our biggest supporters, critics, and saboteurs all at once. If you’re putting in the overtime to get the perfect results, be sure to give yourself the required amount of self-care so that you can continue being your best.

Reaping the rewards of employee wellness

As stated above, a shift toward worker well-being is a win-win for everyone involved. When an employee feels appreciated and motivated to clock in each day, an uptick in productivity and morale is a huge score for hiring managers. That trickle effect not only reduces absenteeism and turnover rates, but can stir up attractive incentives for new hires too. 

By having all the cards on the table and going all-in on employee wellness, employers provide a culture that helps create high performers, prevents burnout and stressful working environments, and encourages growth and sustainability.

Contributed by Mary Dominguez