Jul 21, 2023
Every major company recognises employee well-being in the workplace as a business success driver. And it makes sense. A healthy and engaged workforce can motivate your team to take your company to new heights.
It’s taken some time for employee well-being to reach employers’ radars, with many wrongly identifying money as the most crucial key to employee happiness.
But employers are now waking up. 53% of small firms and 81% of large companies have employee well-being programmes as part of their company workplace culture.
You can create a working environment that increases engagement, productivity, and positivity by building strategies for promoting well-being in the workplace.
Employee well-being has progressed from dated considerations like medical care into actions that span mental, physical, emotional, and economic health. The alarmingly broad scope of employee well-being often makes embracing it difficult for the average business owner.
But the good news is that there are many ways to turn your workplace into a more supportive environment and achieve long-term benefits.
Employee well-being circles many areas. And to meet the needs of your team, you’ll need to offer a range of employee well-being programmes and support systems. To make this easier to achieve, it’s best to break employee well-being down into these 7 areas:
No matter the size of your company, you need to know about the benefits of promoting well-being in the workplace. Taking steps to improve employee well-being can reap valuable benefits, with these 4 being top of the list.
Meeting your employees’ physical, mental, and financial needs will make them feel more competent and valued. In turn, you’ll have a group of employees more engaged with your company than ever before.
Good employee health is known to improve productivity and decision-making — essential if employees are to succeed in their roles.
A reputation for respecting work-life balance does wonders for attracting skilled candidates and retaining existing employees. Even better is that 3 out of 5 workers would consider taking a lower salary if a future workplace offered better well-being support.
Lower stress levels, improved collaboration, and long-term health behaviours lead to more working time. And there are a large number of employee well-being initiatives you can bring to your workplace.
Knowing the benefits of improving employee well-being should be all the motivation you need to take action. To take the next step, follow these simple strategies to promote employee well-being in your workplace that cover the 7 areas of wellness.
Studies show that physical health in your workforce leads to higher concentration, creativity, and reduced stress. Employees who eat well and exercise regularly also take fewer sick days.
Supporting employee health by encouraging your team to participate in physical activity can be split into the time they spend in and out of the office. Within the office walls, you can offer:
Beyond the time spent in the office, you can encourage fitness by:
It doesn’t matter which of the above you choose as they’ll all increase health and well-being in the workplace. The most important thing is to make your team aware of the opportunities and motivate them to take action.
How an employee feels about the work they do is often overlooked. Many employers are blind to workers feeling under-challenged, frustrated, and under-appreciated, which can impact motivation and productivity.
To help workers feel satisfied in their careers, they need the right tools and means to progress, which include:
All of these deliver wellness in the workplace, which will boost motivation, purpose, and job satisfaction.
Financial stress can impact everything from retention to mental health. But financial struggles are difficult to shake when they walk through the office doors.
Financial well-being programmes, such as access to a financial consultant, are favoured by 83% of employees. Employees can better manage their finances with the right blend of financial support and advice.
Similarly, out-of-pocket expenses can be a frustrating burden for employees. Going through the motions of claiming hard-earned money back — from business lunches or daily transport costs — is a chore many would want to end.
With Bolt Business, your team can take work rides and charge them straight to the company. They don’t have to spend their money, waste valuable time filling out expense reports, and wait for reimbursement.
Giving something back to your community is a fulfilling experience that has the potential to deepen the connection with employees and the local area — making it one of the best well-being in the workplace ideas.
Connect with local community groups that interest your workforce, and offer assistance when opportunities arise. Encourage employees to donate their time by giving days off for volunteering or organising fundraising events.
Contributing to the community is a worthwhile activity that can boost morale, offer a sense of purpose, and give your team a chance to bond.
Personal values significantly influence career ambitions and dictate the type of company
people want to work for. Nearly half of millennials (44%) and Gen Z (49%) have made job choices based on their ethics.
It’s simple. Employees want to work for a company that shares their values, and, for the majority, there’s nothing more important than helping the planet. Companies that make eco-conscious decisions attract top talent and hold onto them too.
Your business maintains a green footprint by taking work rides with Bolt Business. Our reliable rides remove company cars from the roads — reducing pollution, congestion, and noise levels.
Better yet, Bolt Business rides across Europe are carbon-neutral!
Meaningful personal and work relationships are essential to long-term health and well-being.
Life is all about connections, and it’s essential not to let work block your employees’ social activities. If your team feels guilty every time they take a break and vacation, you’re doing something wrong.
Taking time to unplug and wind down comes to the benefit of everyone’s mental health and business! Taking breaks — at lunch or setting off on a more extended vacation — is excellent for well-being and productivity. While you’ll already offer breaks and paid holidays, sometimes you must encourage employees.
Flexible work hours can be just as beneficial for well-being in the workplace. Removing the traditional 9-to-5 allows employees to balance their personal and professional lives.
Around 1,000,000 workers are absent every day due to stress. Stress is inevitable even in the most positive workplaces, and you must support your employees.
Emotional wellness programmes should teach ways of dealing with stress with:
It’s also your role to take away the unnecessary stresses of working life. You’ll then empower your team to focus on the things that matter.
Depression and anxiety account for employees missing 12 billion working days every year. Failing to support employee health physically and mentally will impact productivity, attendance, and all-around morale. As an employer, you must make mental health a priority.
Improving mental well-being at work can involve making small (yet significant) changes. Here are a few well-being-at-work ideas:
Well-being activities at work:
Taking these steps will contribute to a healthier working environment. But they can’t make up for a bad working environment with low levels of job security, excessive workloads, or issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Your team should be able to come to work knowing they’re in a safe environment where they won’t be overworked.
Finances have a significant impact on the mental health of your employees. If a member of your team is going through financial difficulty, then it will be almost impossible for them to deliver work to their highest level.
As an employer, you can ensure any financial benefits offered to your team meet their needs and priorities in life. And giving managers mental health training (a great well-being in the workplace idea we covered above) makes them more approachable to team members experiencing money trouble.
Acting proactively by creating an internal reference point that covers finances allows employees to get the answers they need. Taking this step also lets them know that finances aren’t taboo and can be discussed in the workplace.
Travel is one of the most significant stress-inducing factors that employees face. With Bolt Business, you can help your team to use travel time to mentally prepare themselves for the working day — making it one of the best strategies to promote well-being in the workplace.
Employees are the backbone of any company, and it’s your job to prioritise their well-being — and this goes for when they’re in the office and travelling for work.
Sign up for Bolt Business today to show your team that their well-being is your priority. Bolt Business helps companies of any size move their teams for work in an affordable, safe, and reliable way. Save time and money and ensure that getting around is one less thing for your team to worry about.
