According to a recent Gallup survey, 76% of employees admit experiencing symptoms of job burnout.
That’s why creating and fostering a work environment founded in employee well-being is essential. It will allow your employees to flourish, thereby boosting your organization’s performance overall. On the side of the employee, well-being leads to a healthier work environment, better work-life balance, and an overall more positive sentiment about their job and workplace. On the side of the business, employee well-being leads to higher engagement, increased performance, and improved employee retention.
So, it’s a win-win for your entire organization.
Employee well-being has been a hot topic and point of focus in business for some time now, and extends well beyond physical and mental wellness (although that’s still a core part of it). Keep reading to learn more about the 5 central aspects of employee well-being as well as how you can start implementing them in your own organization.
5 Central Aspects of Employee Well-Being
Support (Mental, Emotional, Personal) – It is important that your employees feel supported mentally, emotionally, and personally. Authentic support from fellow team members and supervisors having your back fosters a positive mindset. This has a direct effect on an employee’s perception of and performance in the workplace. Management especially plays an essential role in creating an environment that is safe, trusting, and respectful, as well as practices equity and inclusion.
Sense of Purpose & Meaningful Connections – Your employees need to have a sense of purpose at work. This can be achieved by aligning an individual’s tasks and role to the greater mission of the organization, or emphasizing their importance to achieving that greater goal. It is also accomplished through fostering meaningful and caring connections with other coworkers and leaders.
Financial Security – It is important that employees are making enough to feel financially stable as, it goes without saying, anxiety and fear arise when individuals lack adequate financial resources. Factors such as the current economic state, local cost of living, appropriate benefits packages, etc. should all be considered. There shouldn’t be inequality in workplace compensation either. If compensation is unsatisfactory or unequal, employees will move on.
Professional Development & Opportunities for Growth – No one wants to work in a position or for a company that feels stagnant and like there is no room for growth. Therefore, your organization should provide opportunities for personal and professional development through upskilling and reskilling as well as options for internal mobility.
Physical Well-being – This is the one that typically comes to mind when thinking about employee wellbeing, right? Nonetheless a healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep are essential and do provide the foundation for an individual’s health and happiness. Companies can encourage healthy habits by providing the appropriate resources and practicing strategies that encourage a better work-life balance.
How Employers Can Support Employee Well-Being
Of course, employers can (and should) take the more traditional approach to employee well-being by offering gym discounts or fitness, cooking, and meditation classes, but it shouldn’t stop there. Your approach needs to be more extensive and holistic:
Encourage interaction and team bonding meetings. Praise employees for their effort.
Provide training courses, mentoring, counseling services, coaching sessions, and other peer-based programs.
Administer appropriate benefits compensation through health insurance plans, pension plans, and income protection.
Support and encourage a better work-life balance by encouraging flexibility, and offering paid time off, parental leave, sabbaticals, etc.
Perhaps more important than anything else? Lead by example. Set an example at the top of your organization that will make it clear to your employees that their company prioritizes their well-being and it is acceptable for them to act on these practices.
Categorizing the needs of your employees can help you better understand what they need to feel satisfied and supported in their jobs as well as lead a more healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Do you need help identifying which of these 5 central aspects of employee well-being are lacking in your organization? Or, what you can do to support employee well-being in your workplace? Premier HR Solutions is here to help! Schedule a free consultation at the link below to learn more about our benefits and compensation services, as well as our other solutions for employee well-being.