Lately, wellbeing in the workplace has been coming into the limelight more and more, and for good reason! A few years ago, many people were under the impression that wellness was purely physical, but we know now that a healthy mind is equally as crucial to the happiness of your employees. But, even though it’s being discussed more than ever, many organisations are still a long way off where they need to be when it comes to supporting their staff’s mental health.
Promoting wellbeing in the workplace is all about providing your staff with the necessary incentives, tools, and support to help them bring their best to the job. From health insurance policies to beers on a Friday, skill-sharing workshops to sponsored charity events, nurturing your staff’s happiness fuels engagement and productivity by reminding them that they’re appreciated, and that the 40+ hours they’re putting in every week matter.
Here are three reasons why wellbeing is essential in the workplace.
1. Happier, Healthier Employees Take Less Sick Leave
Did you know a survey conducted by the mental health charity, Mind revealed one in three people consider their job to be the most stressful factor in their lives, even more so than debt and financial problems? And stress doesn’t only affect humans psychologically — it plays a role in our physical health, too.
Prolonged periods of anxiety and worry can increase the likelihood someone will engage in risky behaviours, such as smoking, dangerous driving and excessive drinking. It can also cause fatigue, make concentrating difficult and lead to high blood pressure and illnesses like heart disease and diabetes.
To prevent burnout and lower the number of sick days employees are taking, either because they’re unwell or they don’t want to be in the office, offer free counselling, fixed working hours, and paid breaks. Also, encourage regular exercise and healthy eating.
2. Highly Motivated Teams Perform Better
A lack of autonomy, caused by micromanaging and not correctly utilising your employees’ skills, is at the root of much staff unhappiness. Combat this by using continuous performance management software like Clear Review to empower your teams to set their own goals aligned with company-wide objectives, and encourage managers to provide their teams with regular, meaningful feedback.
It’s also an effective tool for conducting performance reviews and allows leaders to recognise people who have smashed their targets and exceeded expectations. They can then be awarded with pay rises or publicly thanked in team meetings. Those who are struggling can be detected, and you can offer them additional help and coaching.
3. Keep Staff for Longer and Attract Top Talent
A company culture that embraces good mental health by putting employee happiness at the heart of everything it does, instead of focussing solely on the bottom line, fosters loyalty. Your team members will be satisfied in their roles and less inclined to look for new opportunities elsewhere, helping to reduce recruitment costs and retain a high-quality workforce. And if morale is high, they’ll be able to weather whatever challenging situations get thrown at them.
Plus, an employer with solid ethics, low turnover rates, and an enticing wellbeing package is incredibly attractive to new recruits. This will give you a significant advantage over your competitors when choosing top talent, essential for ensuring the continued success of your business.
Wellbeing should be a priority for your organisation, but it needn’t be difficult to implement. Using Clear Review’s continuous performance management software allows managers to provide valuable feedback and support to their teams and also monitor engagement levels, offering advice on how to improve. To see it in action for free, fill out our book a demo form, and a member of our expert team will be in touch.