03. Managing Employee Wellbeing at the Workplace

“With recent COVID-19 outbreak, many employers noticed the impact employee wellbeing has on their performance and consequently on the business results. Employees were distressed and worried and employers had to find ways to accommodate the rising needs for empathy towards their employees.”

Importance of Managing Employee Wellbeing

For an employee his job offers him a secure livelihood, self-affirmation, social security and also it strengthens the self-esteem. Employment also brings benefits like a feeling of worth, social integration and recognition, long term social contacts and a structured daily regiments. Therefore, employers have a duty to create a work environment and adopt a socially responsible approach to look after the employees. With this fulfillment of the duty the employers in return will get an increased likelihood of their employees being committed to the company and then help to make recognize it as a best place to work.  

Unemployment or the loss of employment has a significant effect on deterioration of mental wellbeing of the employees in all age; especially the middle aged employees as it leads to harmful stress, anxiety, depression and also psychotic disorders. There is a short term increases in premature deaths from suicide in countries where there is high unemployment. It is because that the loss of employment or unemployment creates low/no income to live and the loss of the status or social recognition that people and country has to face the following problems.

• Increase of Violence
• Loss of Social Contacts
• Increase of Divorces
• Social Withdrawals
• Increase of Family breakdowns
• Malnutrition and poor diets
• Increase of physical disorders like high pressure, stroke and cardiovascular disease
• Increase of health costs

Retention of employees is very important for a organizations and as an employee spends one quarter of his adult life at workplace, he should be looked after well in all wellbeing areas. Experiencing a high level of wellbeing of employees is always associated with the positive attitudes of the company and it benefits the company also. Following are some benefits that the companies receive.

1. Reduced absenteeism and healthcare costs

The employee wellbeing is directly related with absenteeism and it cost the company. Preventing poor employee wellbeing issues like burnout, stress or sickness, possibilities of diabetes, high blood pressure and other diseases and implementing wellness programs can be done.

Eg. Johnson & Johnson estimated that their wellness programs saved them $250 million on healthcare costs over the last decade. The ROI was 2.71$ for every dollar spent on employee wellbeing.

2. Increased employee engagement

Employee engagement is influenced by employee recognition and good feedback practices and most importantly by employee wellbeing. With a good employee wellbeing culture in the company employees feel more connected, their health is elevated, and consequently their happiness is increased

 3. Improved employee productivity 

When employee wellbeing in the company is optimized, employees are more focused on their work and their productivity increases leading to earn profits.

 4. Improved employee morale

During COVID-19 crisis, showed the importance of keeping employee morale afloat. Introduction of employee wellbeing initiatives like mental health workshops, fitness competition within employees, get-togethers and fancy games at free time will help to improve the employees’ morale.

 5. Attractive employer branding 

Providing employee wellbeing benefits that addresses the future workforce requirement will help  to attract the best candidates for the jobs and that will ensure the company’s business success.

Impacts of Employee Wellbeing

According to literature, employee wellbeing includes multiple aspects of care of employees and the optimizing employee wellbeing at the company will positively impact the employees’ experience. Following are some factors that impacts employee wellbeing.

1. Recognizing the employees’ work

• Providing employee recognition and proper rewards
• Creating a culture of appreciation

2. Facilitating seamless communication

• Proper and timely communication.
• Smooth internal communication channel

3. Enabling easy collaboration

• Teaming employees with similar attitudes

4. Listening to employees

• Proper handling of grievances
• Considering employee recommendations

5. Giving regular and timely feedback

• Allowing chances to develop skills and continue learning
• Proper performance management

6. Showing empathy

• Ensuring a culture with employees first concept
• Create communities
• Humanize the workplace
• Showing empathy and having compassion for employees’ issues 

There are lots of strategies and activities practiced by companies to improve the employees’ wellbeing. The focus is set to being aware of all the benefits of employee wellbeing in the first place and designing employee wellbeing programs to address relevant issues. There are some activities mentioned below which are used to improve employees’ wellbeing at the company.

• Health screening and Health insurance schemes
• Gym membership
• Employee wellbeing solution
• Providing healthy meals and establishing cafeterias  
• Familiarizing Mental wellbeing apps
• Employee counseling services
• Employee recreation
• Flexible work hours and remote work
• Increasing work-life balance
• Stress Management policy and plans
• Employee benefit schemes like medical benefits and loan schemes
• Employee Assistant Programmes