Employees’ wellbeing should be a priority for any business, as it can have a positive impact on productivity and overall success. As such, considering specialist training, incident reporting, and PPE for your team is a no-brainer. But it is time for businesses to consider how they can expand their support to employees’ wellbeing in different areas. Physical health in the workplace is a priority to prevent incidents, claims, and loss of productivity. But your employees’ health is more complex than that, and more than one external factor can affect their health and productivity.
In addition to physical health, businesses should strive to maximize their employees’ wellbeing in the areas of mental health, financial health, social health, and inclusiveness, as well as physical health outside of work.
Mental Health
Mental health is a crucial component of employee wellbeing, and it should not be overlooked. Poor mental health can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which can have a detrimental effect on an individual’s work performance, productivity, and creativity. It is essential that businesses support their employees’ mental health in order to ensure that they are in the best possible condition to perform at their best.
To support employees’ mental health, businesses have a range of strategies. But nothing beats providing a safe and supportive working environment and a culture where people feel comfortable talking about their mental health. This includes providing a confidential counseling service and regularly collecting employees’ feedback to identify who may need help.
Flexible working arrangements to accommodate employees’ needs can also contribute to their mental health.
Financial Health
Employees’ financial health is often overlooked, yet it is essential to their overall wellbeing. Money stress can lead to feelings of fear, guilt, and shame, as well as poor mental health and lower job performance. Furthermore, a lack of financial security can lead to difficulty in maintaining financial stability and can hurt employees’ work-life balance.
It is therefore important for businesses to provide financial training and support to their employees designed to reduce money stress and increase their household income. Financial education can help employees become more confident about their finances and understand how to budget, save, and invest wisely. With a range of investment options available, from property investments to crypto FX trading, financial planning services can help employees create sustainable money goals.
Additionally, employers can provide resources such as discounted financial products, such as mortgages or credit cards, which can help employees become more financially secure.
Social Health and Inclusiveness
Social health in the workplace is often overlooked, but it is just as important as physical and mental health. Research has shown that social health, or the ability to form relationships and function effectively in a group, is linked to improved performance at work. Companies need to create a workplace where employees feel included, respected, and able to connect with others in order to maintain their overall wellbeing.
Companies can foster an inclusive environment by providing educational opportunities that celebrate different cultures and backgrounds. This could include hosting seminars or workshops on diversity and inclusion or having a team-building day focusing on cultural awareness. These activities give employees a chance to get to know each other on a deeper level, as well as learn more about different cultures and beliefs.
Now it’s time to ask yourself how much your business is doing for the employees’ wellbeing and what else you could do.
