By Calisha K Spencer, Human Resources Practitioner
Let’s begin this week’s article with a quote: “You cannot mandate productivity; you must provide the tools to let people become their best” – Steve Jobs.
In the last article, we touched on strategies that can be implemented to boost employee wellness and overall productivity which would aid in personal and professional development.
We captured the comments and reviews made by of some of our readers and we must say that we have an appreciation for all views expressed. One commenter said: “Yes! Employees are your most valuable asset. Treat them well. It’s NOT always about the pay cheque.”
First and foremost, employee wellness programmes are a holistic approach to creating positive work cultures. As with everything in life, there has to be a balance.
Let us explore some benefits of employee wellness programmes and how we can begin the conversation.
- Prevents stress, burnout and mitigates health risks – Chronic stress is associated with many health conditions, including headaches, depression, anxiety, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. With wellness initiatives, you can encourage stress management through positive outlets before it’s too late. Check on your employees during one-on-one meetings to gauge their stress level and adjust their workload before it develops into a larger health concern.
- Promotes healthy habits – Good habits are often hard to start and even harder to keep. Wellness programmes can create structure around healthy habits, including healthy eating, hydration, sleep etc. At minimum, healthy habits should include choosing foods that fuel the body and consistently promote mindfulness.
- Improves employee retention – Salary alone is not enough to entice and retain top talent. When people begin to dislike their working environment, oftentimes they leave, resulting in high turnover in our companies, which is definitely not a good look. Ask for feedback from your team to ensure you’re building wellness programmes people can appreciate and make use of.
- Reduces absenteeism – Wellness plans lead to healthier employees which translates to fewer sick days. When an employee calls in sick, the rest of the team needs to work harder. Ask about challenges faced, without the need to pry. Make suggestions where necessary and offer support utilising available resources and tools.
- Increases productivity – When an employee feels good, they’re able to make better decisions and are likely to be less moody or resort to conflict when misunderstandings arise. It’s all connected. When employees are healthy, they’re more productive, leading to better work output. Creating mandatory vacation policies can ensure every team member takes time off to recharge.
So, wouldn’t you say that having an open mind and positive attitude towards how you approach your work environment has great benefits, which transcend beyond the space where you spend eight hours or more?
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