In a world where employee burnout and growing turnover costs have become major hurdles for companies, more employers are starting to focus on redefining work in ways that promote employee wellbeing.
In this article, we’ll explore why wellness in the workplace is important. We’ll also unpack different approaches that leaders and HR managers can apply to create a happier and more productive work culture.
Let’s dig in!
Why Wellness in the Workplace Matters
With workers spending over 40 hours every week in the workplace, they accumulate 80,000 hours there in their lifetime. That’s a significant amount of time!
To make the most of it, it’s crucial that managers do their best to keep the workforce happy and healthy. It’s well-documented that happy and content workers are more efficient and perform better.
Workplace wellness is thus essential for a business to thrive, retain talent, and secure a positive brand reputation.
According to Gallup, when employees experience high levels of workplace health and wellness, organizations benefit. Employees take fewer sick days and suffer less from burnout and anxiety.
The result? Millions of dollars saved in turnover costs!
A Quick Look at the Numbers
The impact of wellbeing is tremendous when considering its effect on a company’s bottom line. Recent Gallup research demonstrates that as much as 75% of medical costs are accrued due to preventable conditions in workers’ health.
Additionally, there’s an estimated $20 million worth of lost opportunity for every 10,000 workers who suffer from mental health issues connected to the workplace.
How to Improve Health and Wellness in the Workplace
Workplace wellness programs have the primary goal of enhancing employee engagement and boosting productivity. In this sense, offering wellness incentives as part of a larger strategy is key.
As workers continue to report rising levels of poor mental health related to work, having stress management tools at the forefront of a holistic wellness program can make a huge difference – especially to a company’s bottom line.
Keeping the Grind Under Control
High work demands can take a heavy toll on your employees’ health and wellness. It can be anything from working long hours without breaks to being pressured to keep narrow deadlines or work extra hard – perhaps even on weekends.
Job strain in the form of low control and high demand can lead to an array of health risks – including depression, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and burnout.
Spreading out the workload might sound like a costly thing to do. However, the economic cost of having exhausted or sick employees for longer periods of time can be even greater.
Supporting your Team Members’ Personal Needs
A report from the Business Harvard Review indicates that workers who benefit from supportive managers have fewer health risks. An employee program that actively promotes work-life balance through wellness initiatives can build a stronger and more efficient workplace culture.
Here are some examples of how to incorporate wellness initiatives as part of a workplace culture strategy:
Using ergonomic office furniture
Promoting healthy foods
Celebrating employee milestones with a health and wellness gift card
Having regular mandatory breaks
Offering yoga classes at the office
For more examples, read our guide on how to cultivate a healthy workplace environment.
An effective attendance policy can include the following components:
A clear definition of absenteeism
Unambiguous reporting procedures for absences
Expected notification timelines
Documentation requirements
Consequences for unexcused absences
Supportive measures and resources
Open communication channels for addressing concerns related to excessive absences
The Value of a Healthy Workplace
A healthy workplace is the ultimate breeding ground for productivity and innovation. Employees who feel happy at work also tend to stay physically and mentally healthy.
Promoting work-life balance as part of a larger employee performance strategy can save your company millions and future-proof it against turnover and plummeting productivity. This will create a strong and resilient workforce for many years to come!
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