Employee Wellbeing
If we take Employee Wellbeing at it’s most basic level, employers have a duty of care towards its employees. They have a legal and moral responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment. This includes taking reasonable steps to protect employees from physical and psychological harm.
Employers that prioritise employee wellbeing will demonstrate that they really care about employees physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, attracting high calibre candidate, reducing turnover, reducing absence and having highly engaged employees.
Let’s start with the basics.
Health and Safety - Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace that minimizes the risk of physical harm. This includes having a Health & Safety policy, maintaining proper safety procedures, providing necessary training, and ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety regulations. The Health & Safety policy should be kept on the HR System so when new starters join the company they can read and accept the policy through the system.
Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination - Employers have a duty to prevent harassment, discrimination, and bullying in the workplace. This includes creating policies and procedures to address such issues, promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity, and promptly addressing any reported incidents. There should be zero tolerance around these matters and anyone found to be contravening these policies would face disciplinary action and have to answer to gross misconduct allegations.
Workload and Stress Management - Employers should monitor workloads and manage stress levels to prevent excessive pressure and burnout among employees. This may involve setting realistic expectations, providing adequate resources and support, and encouraging work-life balance. I have personally seen managers putting incredible amounts of pressure on people, with the justification being that it won’t be like that forever. But invariable it does go on longer than anticipated and people do burn out.
In todays world of work employers need to be doing much more than the basics. People won’t stay where their wellbeing is not respected or supported.
Mental Health Support - Employers should acknowledge and address the mental health needs of their employees. This may involve implementing mental health initiatives, promoting work-life balance, providing access to resources or counselling services, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Mental health issues have a significant impact on workplace productivity. In a study, it was estimated that poor mental health costs employers in the UK up to £45 billion annually. As a minimum an employer should be providing an EAP service - a 24/7 helpline that employees can call when they need support. Knowing that there is someone at the end of a phone any time of day or night can be hugely reassuring for people that are starting to experience the first signs of stress.
Work-Life Balance - Linked to the point above, employers should encourage a healthy work-life balance and provide as much flexibility as possible. This can include offering flexible work arrangements, promoting time off and annual leave policies, and recognising the importance of employees' personal lives outside of work. If employees don’t have a health work-life balance they run the risk of burnout. They work too many hours, they don’t take breaks, they feel like they are drowning in the amount of work that needs to be done. This is the responsibility of the employer to make sure it doesn’t happen. Some employees will put boundaries in place, where others will struggle. If an employee is setting those boundaries then they need to be respected.
Encourage Physical Well-being - Employers can promote physical well-being by providing access to wellness programs, fitness activities, or health-related resources. Consider offering gym memberships, wellness challenges, or ergonomic assessments to support employees' physical health. There are apps available from companies such as Myles Wellbeing that incorporate many of these things in a fun way. Check out our partner page to see more.
Encourage Social Connections - Employers should create a sense of community and belonging within the organisation by promoting social interactions. Encourage team-building activities, lunchtime gatherings, or social events that facilitate connections and relationships among employees. This is ever more important for those companies that work remotely.
Remember, employee wellbeing is an ongoing effort that requires a holistic approach and a commitment from both the organisation and its leaders. By fostering a culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and implementing these strategies, organisations can create an environment where employees feel supported, engaged, and valued.