Dmytro Spilka March 20, 2021 A business can be described as a machine, a well-oiled formation that is only successful when each component down to the smallest cog works efficiently. If any part of the machine breaks down, we see production fall to a halt, unable to churn out results. In other words, if a business fails to maintain employee wellbeing within the workplace, we see productivity and engagement decline, slowly contributing to the breakdown of the entire unit.
In a recent study by LCP, it was reported that 3 in 5 Brits are currently worried about their workplace wellbeing due to the lack of support from employers during the pandemic. In a post-Covid corporate landscape, where many businesses have seen drastic changes to their workplace lifestyle and location, employee wellbeing has never been so important.
Studies show that a happy and healthy employee is more likely to perform and engage within the business, providing stronger value production for the company as a whole.
Read on if you want to find out the many benefits of creating a healthy workplace and how you can implement these simple steps into your team.
Benefits of a healthy workplace
There are many benefits associated with maintaining a healthy workplace. Employees who feel healthy naturally generate positive energy which is not only good for their own productivity but encouraging for their other team members.
In promoting workplace wellbeing, employers can prevent illness, stress burnout and even workplace accidents. Implementing wellbeing schemes improves company culture and makes for a generally stronger workforce attitude.
For example, the American Physiological Association claims that 89% of workers at companies with a successful wellbeing program are more likely to recommend their company as a happy place to work.
So what are the most important rewards a company can receive when implementing a wellbeing program?
Productivity
It goes without saying that a healthy employee will be more productive in the workplace. Those with strong mental and physical wellness find it easier to concentrate and apply themselves to a task, often producing the strongest results for the company.
(Source: WHO Health Workplace)
In the graph above you can see how a cycle of positive employee wellbeing not only increases their own productivity, but benefits the business as a whole. Companies with a healthy workforce are more likely to become competitive leaders in their field with successful turnovers and a workforce full of energy and intuition.
Imagine a brainstorming session with a team that feels passionate and productive. The results will be nothing less than inspiring.
Team Building
One of the biggest benefits of having a healthy workplace environment is that it can help build unbreakable teams and collective morale in the office. We all work better when we know someone has our back.
Implementing a workplace wellbeing programme into the company culture encourages team members to connect and develop strong working relationships. As naturally social creatures, it’s important for our mental health to create bonds that can turn into friendship and trust.
Better still, team building is the gift that keeps on giving. Healthy teams are more likely to bounce off each other in the workplace, sharing skills and qualities that continue to improve the abilities of their colleagues. By implementing strong team-building exercises into the businesses’ wellbeing plan, employees and employers continue to learn and grow as one unstoppable unit.
Mental Health
Arguably the most important benefit of having a healthy workplace environment is the effect it can have on the mental health of the company’s employees.
Your mental health is the driving force behind your success in the workplace. Businesses who make it their mission to acknowledge and protect their workers’ mental wellbeing often find that they not only have a happier workforce but a safer one.
According to Harvard Business Review, 60-80% of workplace accidents are attributed to workplace stress. Therefore, employers who prioritise mental health are less likely to see injuries, absenteeism and stress-related illnesses.
How can you encourage employee health in the workplace?
We have just discussed how creating a healthy workplace can lead to company success in terms of productivity, teamwork and employee wellbeing, but what do you have to do to see changes in your own company
Don’t worry, we have you covered. Whether you’re an employer or an employee, here are some easy workplace wellbeing solutions that you can implement into your own company culture.
By adopting a new mindset and a few simple practices, prepare to watch your team evolve and perform to their best ability.
Work Aids
In a post-pandemic working era, there have never been more people working remotely. Research by Finder UK revealed that over 60% of the British population currently work from home, with 20% of them moving to permanently remote as a result of Covid.
Therefore the way companies approach workplace wellbeing has had to adapt to fit those who are no longer in the traditional office environment. This is where providing reliable work aids becomes important, in order to ensure that all employees are maintaining their physical wellbeing while working from home.
One of the most crucial additions to a remote wellbeing plan would be the introduction of comfortable work aids. A suitable office chair and productivity-boosting equipment such as a reliable computer system can help ensure physical wellbeing outside of the office. As reported by the NHS, it is imperative that your back is supported when working for long periods of time and screen breaks are taken regularly in order to maintain peak physical health.
For those who find themselves at the screen for the majority of their working day, another great addition to the employee’s workplace set up would be to purchase monitors that are harmless to the eyes and help relieve eye strain. Eye health issues are very often the case for those that work with computers, so having your employees protected is nowadays a must.
According to statistics, there are at least 2.2 billion people around the world that have some form of blindness or vision impairment with 75% of adults needing some form of vision correction.
If you are looking to implement a remote workplace wellbeing scheme into your company, maintaining physical health is the first step towards a healthier working environment.
Exercise and regular breaks
Most of us are sick and tired of being told that exercise is the solution to all problems. Unfortunately though, for those of us who prefer to work on the sofa for 8 hours a day, exercise has actually been proven to work wonders in terms of improving workplace wellbeing and productivity.
Introducing a small exercise break into your working routine not only lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health but also stimulates our endorphins leaving us feeling happier, energised and more productive when approaching our daily tasks.
A recent study by Emerald Insight showed that daily exercise not only improves physical well-being, but those who participated noticed a 72% improvement in their time management and productivity.
If you’re looking to add exercise into your company wellbeing plan, some great suggestions for a fun approach to workplace exercise range from calming yoga Zoom classes, to dedicated exercise breaks where employees benefit from removing themselves from their screen and enjoying some fresh air.
Encourage nutritional habits
Promoting nutritional habits such as a balanced diet and drinking lots of water are often forgotten about when it comes to introducing a wellbeing programme into the office. Many forget that implementing fruit and vegetables into your diet and monitoring your water intake can improve energy and concentration in the workplace.
Studies have shown that younger employees are less likely to maintain a healthy diet at work, and are more likely to binge drink or smoke.
One of the easiest ways to kickstart a healthy work culture is to raise awareness and promote healthy eating plans in the form of creative seminars and tool kits that will encourage employees to take a step back and review their own eating habits.
An even simpler solution is to introduce fresh fruits and juices into the office, perfect for those 3pm snack cravings!
Start talking about mental health
Mental health is a conversation all businesses should be talking about. Learning to talk freely and openly about mental health struggles not only improves working relationships and productivity but can save lives.
(Source: Early Metrics)
As the graph above indicates, 15.4 million working days are lost to work-related stress, depression and anxiety, rendering mental health as one of the largest causes of absenteeism in the workplace.
Introducing useful procedures into your wellbeing plan that target stress and start important conversations will make your employees feel listened to and accepted in the workplace. Starting a conversation about mental health encourages those who are struggling to come forward without the fear of losing their jobs to the stigma.
A simple ‘how are you?’ can change someone’s day, so imagine how much of an impact you can make by holding regular mental health workshops and talking sessions.
In conclusion
It’s never been more important to prioritise employee health in the workplace. In a post-pandemic landscape, workplace dynamics have changed drastically, leaving workers feeling lost, unmotivated and unproductive.
As we spend more time in front of Zoom and less time with our colleagues in the office, regular team-building workshops, exercise breaks and work aids are imperative as businesses move forward.
Promoting workplace wellbeing will result in a happier and healthier workforce, dedicated to producing success both in and out of the office.
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