Studies show that well-being is more important than ever for employees. A survey by the American Psychological Association suggests that over 80% of employees consider employer mental health support when looking for a new job. If you run a business, it’s critical to recognize the importance of health and well-being. In this guide, we’ll outline effective strategies to build a healthier, happier workforce.
One of the most important steps to take when you manage a business is to identify common health issues and trends. Collect and analyze data and talk to your employees. If your employees are taking leave due to stress, or there has been an increase in cases of back pain, for example, it’s beneficial to implement measures to address these problems and reduce risks moving forward. Talk to your employees and find out what is contributing to stress.
Listen to what your team tells you and encourage honesty and openness. There may be practical solutions you can implement immediately. Such as adjusting the workload or getting other people involved to share tasks more evenly. However, you may also need to consider company culture. Implementing measures that have a long-term impact is beneficial. Prioritize mental health support, and add health and wellness benefits to your employee package. Also, try to ensure that individuals who are stressed have access to the help they need.
Learning is incredibly valuable when you manage a group of people and you want to get the best out of them. As a company owner or team leader, you can use training programs and courses to learn how to support your team and foster a culture that champions health and well-being. You can also provide access to training and wellness schemes that will benefit your employees.
Training can cover everything from dealing with sources of stress and coping with emotions to building strong relationships and learning to be more resilient. Understanding resilience definition is advantageous for employers and employees. It involves being able to handle and bounce back from difficulties and challenges. It also helps your workforce develop coping mechanisms, which helps build a healthier, happier lifestyle. Speak to your employees to get ideas about what types of workshops or sessions they’d like to attend. Then, tailor your search for courses and programs to suit your team.
Exercise is one of the most powerful and effective natural health remedies. Being active is not only important for reducing the risk of health issues, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer, but it also boosts mental health. Exercise is a potent stress-buster. It helps people to express and manage their emotions. Plus, it can be a welcome source of distraction.
Employers are not responsible for their team’s activity levels. However, there are ways to encourage active lifestyles. Examples include incentivizing walking or cycling to work, offering access to leisure and sports facilities, and adding benefits, such as discounted gym membership, to employee benefits schemes. You can also use sports and activities to bring teams together and have fun at work. Why not organize a monthly or annual sports competition? Set up a mini-league, plan fun runs to raise money for charity, or create a soccer, netball, lacrosse, baseball, or tennis team.
The relationships we have with our work colleagues and bosses can have a major impact on our well-being. They especially impact how we feel about going to work each day. Positive relationships make work more enjoyable. If you have friends at work, and you get on well with your manager, this can have a really positive effect on your mental health. If you feel disconnected or excluded, or there is conflict or tension within the team, this can have the opposite effect. As the boss, it’s crucial to try to build strong relationships throughout your business.
Take the time to get to know your team. Organize regular catch-ups and encourage open communication between colleagues and team leaders, and the people they manage. Create collaborative, communal working spaces, and get together virtually if you have remote staff members. Consider opportunities to socialize outside of work. Schedule a monthly visit to a local cafe or bar after work on a Friday. Or, get tickets to a show, concert, or game to celebrate birthdays. Or, even take a break and hang out at the office over lunchtime with a pizza. Simple things can make a big difference.
An unhealthy work-life balance is one of the most common causes of stress and anxiety. Many people struggle with their mental health. Often this is because they’ve got too much on their plates and they spend too much time working or thinking about work. Business owners and managers can help to ease stress by promoting flexibility. Consider implementing policies and guidelines that promote healthier, happier workforce processes. Small changes like enabling people to work from home more regularly and giving employees more control over their schedules can have a massive impact.
You could also consider bringing in rules like setting a deadline for sending work emails. The last thing people want after a busy week at work is to get an email notification at 8 o’clock on a Friday evening. Setting core hours is beneficial as it allows employees to manage their schedules. Some people may prefer to start and finish early, for example.
It’s helpful to talk to your team before making decisions about working hours or working-from-home arrangements. Getting their input and ideas is important. You may find that you get a mixture of suggestions and preferences. You may find that some people want to work from home more and others want to spend more time at the office. Thus, you could consider a hybrid structure or class employees as home or office-based.
Employee health and well-being is an increasingly important issue for business owners. If you’re on a mission to go above and beyond to build a healthier, happier workforce, it’s beneficial to follow these steps. Identify common health issues and trends, communicate with your employees, make use of training and provide access to training for your employees. Implement wellness schemes and include health and well-being benefits in the employee package. Promote active lifestyles and try to create a culture that supports inclusion. Continue to encourage collaboration and teamwork. Finally, try to be more flexible and take ideas and suggestions from your team on board.
