Many entrepreneurs cite burnout and a desire to achieve a better work-life balance as key reasons they decided to open up their own company. For this reason alone, you must work to curate a workplace where employee well-being is at the center of everything you do. Otherwise, you risk putting your employees in the situation you ran away from yourself. A poor working environment often leads to a drop in productivity and efficiency, and will likely contribute to a high turnover rate. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to master workplace wellness. Read on to find out more!
Take Mental Health as Seriously as Physical Health
Due to years of stigma, we often do not view mental health conditions or struggles as seriously as phisical ones. For example, despite the fact that “84% of employees admit that workplace conditions had contributed to at least one mental health challenge,” this is not something that they would ever consider taking time off for.
However, by taking mental health seriously and putting plans in place to support employees who may be struggling, you are making employee wellbeing a priority moving forward. One way in which you could achieve this goal is by encouraging employees to take time off when necessary, as opposed to simply pushing through.
Focus on Emotional Well-being
By helping your employees regulate or take better care of their emotions, you cultivate greater happiness. They will feel more balanced and calm, as opposed to mounting stress and anxiety. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by partnering with a company that offers chaplain services or counseling. This means providing employees with the support and guidance they need to become the best possible version of themselves.
Create a Safe and Supportive Working Environment
Creating a safe and supportive working environment on behalf of your team will also help keep your employees happy. In order to master workplace wellness, create a culture where they don’t have to hide their struggles from those around them. With this, they are more likely to seek help at work when they need it. This, in turn, means colleagues are able to lift each other up, while those in leadership positions can put plans in place to better support them.
Lead By Example
It can be challenging to master workplace wellness and employee struggles if you are not aware of them to begin with. However, uncovering these issues can be tough if your employees find it hard to open up to you. One way you can remedy this is leading by example and talking openly about how you are feeling too (without oversharing). This shows your employees that it’s okay to express concerns and emotions. This also shows that doing so will not have a negative affect on their career or position within your team.
Provide Your Team with Growth Opportunities
Providing your employees with opportunities that unlock personal growth and development can also work wonders to improve employee well-being. This is because they are working toward something that will benefit them in the long run. This is so much better than feeling as though they have nowhere else to go within your company. As such, they will be more focused and enthusiastic moving forward. Not only that, but when they are sufficiently challenged, employees tend to report higher satisfaction rates overall.
Curate an Employee Wellness Program
If you want to master workplace wellness, I recommend curating an employee wellness program that fits into your specific business. In doing so, you’re championing your employees needs and showing them you care. This allows them to take better care of themselves both inside and outside of the workplace.
Not sure where to begin? Your workplace wellness program could include some of the following:
- Access to therapeutic services, such as therapy or counselling sessions
- Access to a wide range of resources, promoting good mental health and well-being
- Discounts on gym memberships, exercise classes, and other fitness pursuits
Offer Flexibility
While some employees thrive in a busy office environment, others may prefer to work from home. By offering flexibility or running a hybrid office, you can help all of your employees to work in an environment in which they feel comfortable. This, in turn, will have a positive influence on your team’s well-being. Not only that, but it can also save you money in the long run.
Final Thoughts
In today’s climate, in order to master workplace wellness, owners have complex responsibilities. Business owners who do not make employee wellness a priority put their business at risk, especially when it comes to employee retention and productivity. Furthermore, there are plenty of steps you can take to master workplace wellness within your company, from ensuring that employees are taking good care of their emotions to preventing burnout by reducing their workload.