Employee wellbeing is a hot topic in the workplace and in 2017, the UK saw nearly half of businesses implement a strategy which aimed to specifically improve the overall wellbeing of their staff.
Some of the effective strategies set out by business leaders included innovative and creative ways to ensure mental health is considered and openly discussed in the workplace, and allowing employees to be able to speak about their problems with increased ease and comfort.
Optimisation of the workplace and leadership approach can boost learning, productivity, job satisfaction, health and overall well-being of your employees. Each of these aspects then contributes to how well a company can retain their staff and as a result, reduce overhead costs associated with recruitment. It’s important to remember that the fluidity and success of your business can hinge on the effectiveness of the people, the place and the processes.
Rethink your space
Maximising efficiency in the workplace isn't always easy or affordable, however, it can be a surefire way to maximise the potential of your workforce and your business. An investment in a more enjoyable workplace that integrates technology to alleviate tedious processes can result in a boosted morale and an increased output from your employees.
If budgets simply won't allow for an office overhaul, rearranging the physical elements in the space can make a huge impact on productivity. Changing the layout of the office in line with feedback from staff can result in a huge impact on productivity. Smaller changes such as changing the temperature in the office, providing supportive desk chairs and even introducing colour and plants can all boost moods and employee enjoyment.
The ‘third place’ is a term used to describe a location in an office such as a work-café or similar that offers your employees the opportunity to converse, learn from one another, catch a break from the desk or focus on work individually if the office space is too loud and crowded.
People focused
It’s not enough to ensure that your staff have a safe, clean and enjoyable working environment, it is now important to put in place effective means of managing health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Many companies are looking to shift the current methods of managing occupational health into a holistic approach which aims to reduce the risk of stress and workplace mental health-related problems. Proactive management of common causes for workplace mental health related illness can include restructuring for a fairer distribution of work, leadership training to ensure managers are able to support workers more effectively and an overall better monitoring of workplace culture.
Toxic culture can lead to severe issues with confidence, anxiety and feelings of low mood, which can ultimately result in a serious mental health condition for workers. Feedback should be obtained from employees, preferably on an optional anonymous basis, that allows your staff to tell you what they do and don’t like about the workplace and its culture. This can lead to individuals revealing personal gripes that may be affecting their well-being, that otherwise wouldn't have been reported.
Ongoing processes
Supporting the health and wellbeing of staff accompanied by an enjoyable work environment can both hugely impact your business productivity. However, productivity can also be managed when internal processes better support employees.
Many businesses see higher rates of productivity where there a high levels of teamwork, social and collaborative skills and a technology-focused methodology of management. Utilising technology in processes, such as allowing employees to work remotely, offer flexibility and receive feedback quickly and in a productive format can strip back the layers of management sign-off and arduous processes to streamline activities for increased output. If your business has not considered the implications of boosted technological capabilities on your business, you could be limiting your potential for growth and missing out on critical opportunities.