Over the years, employee health has increasingly featured on the radar of business owners who recognize the benefits of a healthy, engaged workforce.
A happy team has less absences, more motivation and greater loyalty, therefore improving the company’s bottom line. It also makes for a more positive environment and one that people will happily show up for each day.
In fact, according to a recent report from the UK, 86 per cent of employees now believe their employer is responsible for their health and wellbeing.
With this in mind, it has never been more important to establish a culture that is supportive and sympathetic to employees’ needs.
Especially when sickness-related absences were reported to climb by more than 6 per cent in the past year. Employees are burnt out, tired and in need of more autonomy to feel valued and productive.
So how do you provide the best environment for your employees to ensure engagement, wellbeing and satisfaction remain front of mind? A recent study in the Journal of Public Affairs identifies the following areas for employers to focus on in order to yield the strongest possible workforce:
- Career development prospects
- Encouragement and recognition
- Communication
- Flexible hours
- Fair pay structures
- Transparent and open work environments
- Employee participation in decision‐making
- Health and wellbeing program/s
While these may seem fairly straightforward on paper, some are more complex to implement than others and may take a fair amount of time and money to bring about.
It’s important to chat with staff to get a sense of what is most important to them, what will be most valued and give them a sense of what is most feasible for your business.
In this brave new world, there are many changes and hurdles to overcome for both the employer and employee. With some understanding, empathy and proactivity, everyone can feel a greater sense of value and productivity.
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