As per AIHR predictions, there is a growing trend for organizations to focus on total well-being in 2023. With macroeconomic pressures affecting both businesses and employees, this prediction is rapidly turning into a reality. As a result, companies are recognizing the importance of not only prioritizing employee wellness but also developing resilience across their operations.
Employee Wellness
Employee wellness has been a buzzword in the corporate world for some time now. While many organizations have implemented wellness programs to promote employee health, there is often a gap between the intended outcomes and the actual results. It’s time for companies to take a step back and evaluate their approach to employee wellness holistically.
Employee wellness is not just about physical health. It’s about creating a culture of wellness that supports employees’ mental, emotional, and social well-being, along with their physical health. A balanced approach to wellness is essential to support employees in achieving their best selves at work and in their personal lives.
Employee Health: A Foundation for Total Well-Being
To create a culture of wellness, companies must first prioritize employee health. A healthy workforce is a foundation for total well-being. Employees who are physically healthy are less likely to take sick days, experience burnout, or suffer from chronic illnesses. Companies can support employee health by offering wellness programs, such as gym memberships, healthy food options, and health screenings.
However, employee health is not just about physical health. Mental health is equally important. Companies can support mental health by offering employee wellness monitoring software, counseling services, and mindfulness training.
Additionally, companies can offer flexible work arrangements to support employees in balancing work and personal responsibilities, reducing stress and supporting their mental well-being.
Dr. Dieter Veldsman, Chief Scientist HR and OD at AIHR, emphasizes that “HR must shift the focus towards sustainable employee well-being. Ideally, HR would like to break the paradigm that a “good worker” is someone who sacrifices their personal time and resources to meet the needs of the organization.
Instead, a good worker is someone who maintains a healthy boundary between
demands and resources, delivering within the relationship in a sustainable manner that aligns with the organization’s expectations. To achieve this, HR may need to reassess the behaviors they celebrate and reward within their organizations. Rather than rewarding effort alone, they must evaluate the impact of an employee’s actions to create a sustainable work culture.”
Employee Work-Life Balance: Supporting Total Well-being
A key component of employee wellness is work-life balance. When employees feel overworked and overwhelmed, they are more likely to experience burnout, stress, and health problems. Companies can support work-life balance by offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options, flexible schedules, and paid time off.
Employee tracking Software and Employee monitoring software can also help companies identify areas where employees are struggling to achieve work-life balance. Companies can use SaaS tools to monitor employee workloads and track employee burnout. These insights can help companies adjust their approach to workload management and offer support to employees who are struggling to balance their work and personal responsibilities.
Employee Monitoring: Balancing Privacy and Support
Employee monitoring can be a sensitive topic, as employees may feel their privacy is being invaded. However, when done correctly, employee monitoring software can be a valuable tool for supporting employee wellness. Companies can use monitoring tools to identify areas where employees are struggling, such as excessive workload, poor time management, or poor communication.
Companies must balance the benefits of monitoring with employees’ right to privacy. Clear communication and transparency are essential when implementing monitoring tools. Companies should explain why they are monitoring employees and what data will be collected.
Creating a Culture of Wellness
Creating a culture of wellness requires a holistic approach to employee wellness. Companies must prioritize employee health, support work-life balance, and use monitoring tools to identify areas where employees are struggling. However, creating a culture of wellness is not just about implementing programs and tools. It’s about creating a supportive environment that encourages employees to prioritize their well-being.
Companies can create a supportive environment by providing resources, such as mental health support, flexible work arrangements, and wellness programs.
Additionally, companies can promote a culture of openness, where employees feel comfortable discussing their health and well-being with their managers and colleagues.
Employee wellness is a critical component of creating a happy, healthy, and productive workforce. Companies must take a balanced approach to wellness, focusing on employee health, work-life balance, and monitoring to support total well-being. Creating a culture of wellness requires a holistic approach that prioritizes employee well-being and creates a supportive environment for employees to thrive.
The Benefits of Prioritizing Employee Wellness
Prioritizing employee wellness has numerous benefits for both employees and employers. When employees feel supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance, they are more engaged, productive, and loyal. Additionally, prioritizing wellness can lead to reduced healthcare costs, decreased absenteeism, and increased employee retention.
★ Engagement and Productivity
Employees who feel supported in achieving work-life balance and maintaining their health are more engaged and productive at work. A study conducted by Gallup found that engaged employees are 21% more productive than their disengaged peers. Additionally, a study by Harvard Business Review found that employees who exercise regularly report higher levels of productivity and engagement at work.
★ Reduced Healthcare Costs
When employees prioritize their health, they are less likely to experience chronic health problems that can result in high healthcare costs. By providing wellness programs and resources to support employee health, companies can help prevent chronic illnesses and reduce healthcare costs. Additionally, a study conducted by the World Health Organization found that for every $1 invested in workplace wellness programs, companies saw a return on investment of $3.27.
★ Decreased Absenteeism
Employee wellness programs can also lead to decreased absenteeism. When employees are physically and mentally healthy, they are less likely to take sick days or experience burnout. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that companies with comprehensive workplace wellness programs had an average absenteeism rate of 2.73 days per employee per year, compared to 3.23 days for companies without wellness programs.
★ Increased Employee Retention
Employees who feel supported in achieving work-life balance and maintaining their health are more likely to remain with their current employer. A study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management found that companies with wellness programs had a 65% higher retention rate than companies without wellness programs.
Bottom Line
Employee wellness is essential to creating a happy, healthy, and productive workforce. Companies must take a holistic approach to wellness, prioritizing employee health, supporting work-life balance, and using employee monitoring system to identify areas where employees are struggling. Additionally, creating a culture of wellness requires a supportive environment that encourages employees to prioritize their well-being.
By prioritizing employee wellness, companies can reap numerous benefits, including increased engagement and productivity, reduced healthcare costs, decreased absenteeism, and increased employee retention. It’s time for companies to take a step back and evaluate their approach to employee wellness to ensure they are supporting the total well-being of their employees.
To keep up with employee wellness there are numerous tools available one such employee productivity and wellness monitoring software is We360.ai.
To know more about the software, talk to our Product Specialist!