The Future Of Work – Employee Wellbeing 

Since the pandemic, there has been a shift in focus for employers in building the ideal workplace for their employees. While much of the discussion has focused on creating a hybrid workplace wherein employees can choose to work in the office, at home, or remotely based on their needs and preferences, employee wellbeing is much more than that. Find out how you can protect the wellbeing of your employees and embed it into your company culture.   

What is Employee Wellbeing?

According to the American Institute of Stress, 83% of workers in the US suffer from workplace-related stress. Up to 25% of employees say that their job is the primary source of stress in their lives. During the pandemic, the issues of stress at work did not cease even when many people are working from home. Burnout became an even bigger issue, according to reports from the American Psychology Association.

Due to the negative impacts of burnout and stress on employee performance and productivity, employers are forced to shift their mindset on how to increase employee engagement and productivity. 

The future of work is now focused on wellbeing in the workplace. The concept of wellbeing is not just physical, though. It has also expanded into other aspects of employee life such as mental health, a sense of community, defining their purpose, and social life. The employer has a crucial role to play in this because it starts with a change in company culture.  Leaders within an organisation must prioritise wellbeing. But how exactly can you do this?  

Physical well-being

With more employees working from home or remotely, it is easy to blur the line between life and work. Employers need to promote physical wellness and make it the core of your routine. For example, keep your meetings short and infrequent; avoid speaking to employees beyond working hours, and promote wellness programs to nurture their physical and mental health. 

Career health

A rapid talent migration comes as a result of employees’ desire to work remotely (or have access to a hybrid workplace), a good compensation plan, and training resources for more skills development. Give your employees a sense of fulfillment in their careers instead of looking at it as a means for them to provide for their families. 

Financial wellbeing

Aside from health and career, finance issues are one of the major sources of stress for employees. You have to devise solutions that would provide your employees with financial assistance for unexpected expenses, which can happen more often than you think.  

Social wellbeing

Make sure to encourage team-building activities and social interactions among employees as much as you can. This approach will combat the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can happen when working from home. Or provide agile working solutions to encourage employees to meet up at a common workplace or socialise from time to time.  

Emotional wellbeing

Stress is directly linked to an individual’s emotional and mental wellbeing. Make sure to transform your leadership approach to promote inclusivity and to deliver programs that enable each member of your team to tackle their emotional and mental health issues without fear of being discriminated against.  

Simply put, employee wellbeing is when you have employees that are happier, healthier, and more productive to generate positive impact in the workplace.  

Employee Wellbeing: Key Benefits and Impact in the Workplace  

The key benefits to the wellbeing of employees are paramount to the sustenance of your business and may have a substantial impact on workplace culture. Research has shown that companies that prioritise employee well-being tend to outperform those that do not and results in a more resilient workforce. The following section covers the key benefits and impact in more detail. 

Enhanced Productivity and Performance

Healthier employees are more focused, engaged, and efficient, leading to higher quality work and increased innovation. Research has shown a direct correlation between the well-being of employees and general productivity. It makes logical sense that as the wellbeing of an employee improves, he or she will be inspired to contribute and accomplish more.  

Improved Employee Health and Reduced Absenteeism

Wellbeing programs promote healthier lifestyles, reducing health-related absences and managing stress. As a result, healthy employees would come to work ready and be less prone to taking sick leave from illnesses. Better health in general also allows employees to be more focused at work, thereby achieving more in the long run.  

Enhanced Employee Retention and Attraction

A focus on wellbeing boosts retention and attracts new talent, reducing turnover costs and enhancing the company’s appeal. When an employee’s wellbeing is being considered and taken care of, this causes connections and loyalty to be built between the company and the employee. A trusting relationship is a significant contributor to talent retention, as well as growth.

Better Employee Engagement and Morale

A positive work environment boosts morale and commitment, improving team dynamics and company loyalty. As a result, employees would be more engaged at work. The positive morale will also attribute to increased productivity throughout the business cycles.  

Reduced Healthcare Costs

Preventative health measures can lead to a healthier workforce and lower health insurance claims. Reduced healthcare cost connotates that resources could be put into more productive use to further grow the business, which in turn will provide the company means to better reward its employees for their hard work.

Employers can also implement wellness programs to help improve employee well-being. These programs can include healthy work-life balance policies, mental health support, and physical health programs just to name a few.  

Creation of a Positive Company Culture

Prioritising employee wellbeing contributes to a positive, inclusive company culture, enhancing the brand in the long run. A positive company culture will benefit both internal staff and external stakeholders as it cultivates a work environment conducive to creativity. A positive company culture also contributes to better corporate branding.  

Support for Diversity and Inclusion

Tailored wellbeing initiatives accommodate diverse needs, fostering an inclusive work environment. Issues related to diversity is increasing gaining prevalence across the globe. Business seeking long term success should get on board and be familiarise with best practices.  

Legal and Ethical Compliance

Focusing on wellbeing helps organisations comply with health and safety regulations, avoiding legal issues. By allocating resources on legal and compliance related matters, it not only affords the business a better standing on compliance related matters but also savings of monetary or human resources for failure to comply.  

Factors Impacting Employee Wellbeing in the Modern Workplace  

Several factors have significantly impacted employee wellbeing in the workplace. Understanding these influences is crucial for organisations seeking to foster a healthy and productive work environment. Here are some of the key factors:  

Work-Life Balance

The struggle to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life is a major factor affecting employee wellbeing. Excessive work hours, inability to disconnect from work, and blurred boundaries, especially in remote working scenarios, can lead to stress and burnout. In contrast, a more balanced approach may lead to increased productivity.  

Work Environment and Culture

The physical work environment, along with the prevailing company culture, plays a significant role in employee wellbeing. A negative or toxic work culture, lack of support from management, and unsafe or uncomfortable physical conditions can negatively impact mental and physical health. It will have negatively impact employee performance in the long run.   

Technological Changes

The rapid pace of technological advancement and digitalisation has transformed the way people work. While technology can offer flexibility and efficiency, it can also lead to increased workloads, constant connectivity, and difficulty in unplugging from work. Hence, businesses should provide guidelines on how technological changes should be approached with helpful guidance where needed.  

Personal Factors

Individual factors such as family responsibilities, personal health issues, and lifestyle choices also play a significant role in determining an employee’s overall wellbeing. Although it is difficult to interfere personal matters, offering support when needed can pay off down the road. This also contributes to a trusting relationship to be built. 

What Companies Can Do to Improve Their Employees’ Wellbeing  

As mentioned above, employees play a vital role in making wellbeing the focus of work in the future. Here are some recommendations on how you can promote wellbeing in the workplace: 

• Conduct regular health screening. Physical wellness is the core of employee wellbeing. Make healthcare accessible to your employees and give them the assurance that you can provide support for their health and wellbeing

• Give them control over how they work. Some employees are more productive in the office, while others are more productive at home. Some would like a mix of both (hybrid). Pay attention to what your employees want and give them the flexibility to choose

• Provide them with health insurance. Buying a policy for your employees is a concrete way of showing your commitment to supporting their wellbeing

• Give recognition and rewards to your employees. Making praise and recognition a part of your company culture is going to increase your employee engagement and make them more motivated. It’s also beneficial for their mental health and wellbeing

• Conduct an employee wellbeing survey. The survey will provide you with crucial insights into how you can improve your current policies and if other issues must be addressed

• Be flexible on employees’ work schedule when they need the time off to take care their family, as well as personal interest

• Keep your organisation adequately staffed. Make sure that you have enough people to do the job so you’re not spreading your employees too thin or burning them out with too much workload

• Support physical wellness with wellness programs. This can be a virtual event or a monthly activity that your employees can participate in. Focus on various fitness programs to make it engaging and to infuse variety.  

Methods to Measure Employee Wellbeing in the Workplace 

The following section provides strategies for measuring employee wellbeing in the workplace. 

 Employee Surveys

Use brief, regular surveys to gather direct feedback on job satisfaction, stress levels, and work-life balance. It might also be practical to allow employees to submit feedback anonymously if they wish. By doing so, problems or concerns could be addressed accordingly and preemptively before it gets worse. 

One-on-One Check-Ins

Conduct personal meetings with employees to discuss their wellbeing and gather individual insights. Employees may feel more at ease talking in a one on one setting. This process contributes to the well-being of employees as it gives them a feeling of respect, thereby enabling trust to be built overtime.

Absence and Turnover Rates

Monitor rates of absenteeism and employee turnover as indicators of workplace stress and overall wellbeing. Statistical analysis and relevant data mining could be effective ways to track development or lack thereof. These statistics are also useful indicators on when new policies are required.

Performance Metrics

Observe changes in productivity and work quality to assess the impact of wellbeing on employee performance. These performance metrics could be used for effective communications, it also constitutes as a guide to identify where a boosting on performance is needed.

A practical reward system should be in place to celebrate the achievements of employees in a fair manner, often in the form of bonuses and monetary rewards from promotions. 

Health Insurance Claims

Review health insurance data for trends in mental and physical health-related claims, reflecting the overall health of employees. These claims also illustrate a snapshot of what is practical for employees and their needs. 

The Future of Employee Wellbeing 

Employers have an important role to play in the future of work. The root of this change in overall strategy is employee empowerment and flexibility. Organisations must react with agility and a sense of purpose. This approach will make the most impact on employees’ overall wellness and for the company to foster the employee experience. 

As employers, you must show trust for your employees. Trust them that they will give their best if you support their physical, mental, social, and emotional needs. At the same time, empowering them gives them a greater sense of purpose because it is aligned with their personal goals. The two parties (employers and employees) get to benefit from this new work approach.    

Employee Wellbeing and Agile Working  

An agile work strategy is one of the solutions to promoting workplace wellness. Flexibility is one of the ways that you give employees control over how, where, and when they work. This flexibility refers not just to the schedule but also the actual work environment. 

When there is flexibility, there are fewer constraints. Indeed, gone are the days of a traditional workplace setup wherein employees must report to work at a specific schedule and location. You can optimise their work performance by letting them choose the right work environment that fosters their productivity.  

Agile workspaces that can be scaled up or downsized to fit your employees needs can give the flexibility that your employees need. They can come into flexible office space when doing collaborative work, or opt to work from home when they want to focus on individual projects. Working agile can motivate and empower your employees because they are more satisfied and happier.  

Of course, promoting employee wellbeing does not end in providing flexible work arrangements and spaces. You can also reinforce it with initiatives and policies such as wellness programs and healthcare assistance. It’s also good to encourage your employees to be each other’s supporters in promoting mental health so they won’t feel as isolated even when working remotely.