Employee Wellbeing Initiatives To Improve Your Workplace
Even if your company has the latest equipment and stellar commodities, employees are still your greatest resource. However, because they spend 40 hours or more in the office per week, there is a high probability that tension will arise. Workplace environments and cultures have shifted in the modern era, leading to a new set of struggles and awareness.
In fact, about 25% of American workers name their job as their number one source of stress. Even more alarming is that some people have experienced the urge to use physical violence, verbal abuse or personal tantrums in the workplace as an outlet for this stress. Fortunately, there are many ways to combat this issue — they just require time, effort and active participation.
How Stress and Wellbeing Are Connected
Stress, especially in the workplace, often has a detrimental effect on physical and mental health. Whether it manifests in neck or back pain, difficulty sleeping, irritability, strained eyes or hurting hands, 12% of workers have called in sick at least once because of stress.
Job insecurity, absenteeism, long hours and employee turnover are all causes of extreme stress, making it that much more important to prioritize your staff’s health and wellbeing at work.
Your organization’s efficiency largely depends on the state of your workforce. If your team is plagued by work-related stress, it could be making it difficult for them to meet deadlines and collaborate effectively. Supporting your employees’ health can greatly impact the company by increasing productivity and motivation. The good news is that there are many ways to boost morale and wellness in the workplace.
Improving Corporate Health and Wellness
Because they spend so much time in the office, your staff is aware of the challenges and aggressions that may be regularly presented. Factors such as micromanagement and uncompromising workloads might be contributing to deeper roots of stress. However, implementing some of these positive strategies could help break down the walls of pressure and anxiety:
Implement a flexible workplace.
Hybrid schedules and working from home has become increasingly common, proving that it’s not always necessary to report to an office in order to accomplish professional tasks. Allowing employees to work from home could ease office-related stress and allow more time for personal responsibilities.
Offer mental health programs and therapy.
Wellness breaks are crucial to recharge and become more self-aware — a beneficial skill in and out of the workplace. Mindfulness training tends to evoke positive emotions, and having access to therapeutic programs promotes wholeness on and off the clock.
Encourage participation incentives.
Forcing your employees to engage and participate may backfire. However, offering incentives and inclusive initiatives, such as healthy competitions and open collaboration efforts, could create a more welcoming space.
Promote team building exercises.
Many companies rely on group projects and collaboration to succeed. If a team is hostile or overly competitive, it might foment division, cliques and uncomfortable situations among coworkers. Drawing staff away from work-related tasks and encouraging personal interactions could create a new rhythm that refreshes their relationships.
Emphasize independent work.
Independent workspaces benefit employees by giving them a quiet space to complete tasks while avoiding burnout and loud offices. Consider a noise-blocking phone booth from Pillar Designs to elevate productivity from the comfort of a private getaway.
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The best phone booths and meeting pods for your office.
Provide healthy snacks and food.
Though pastries, donuts and cake may be a temporary pick-me-up, they aren’t really brain boosters. Healthier snacks such as fruit platters, protein bars or smoothies might get more approval and increase morale.
Invest in Your Employees
Even if you run a tight budget at your company, investing in corporate wellness doesn’t have to put a dent in the funds. Though it may take some time to become accustomed to new programs, encouraging your employees to engage in healthy habits could go a long way.
A holistic emphasis on emotional, physical and professional eudaimonia might make staff more likely to happily embrace initiatives and respect management. When given priority and the correct tools, employees’ wellness at work can be a beneficial contributor to strategy and teamwork.
Resources.
https://www.rochemartin.com/blog/22-well-being-workplace-initiatives-can-start-today/
https://blog.teamscapeslearning.com/20-wellbeing-initiatives-to-implement-in-the-workplace
https://gethppy.com/workplace-happiness/workplace-wellbeing-initiatives-boost-productivity
Featured image credit
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