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How Leaders Can Improve Wellbeing in the Workplace

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What is wellbeing in the workplace?

Mental health and wellbeing at work are being spoken about more and more thanks to COVID, and organisations are finally really starting to crack down on employee wellbeing in the workplace. According to research by The CIPD, a study over 2019/2020 showed that 18 million working days were lost to mental health related issues like stress, anxiety, and depression.

In short, wellbeing is a state of happiness, comfort, and health. When at work, promoting wellbeing can help prevent employee stress and create a positive working environment for both employees and employers alike. A happier workforce is a more productive and effective workforce. Employers have a duty of care towards their employees and their health or mental health. But how can you as a leader, help to improve wellbeing at work?

The key aspects of wellbeing in the workplace

There is no one way to health and wellbeing in the workplace, as there are many different factors that can induce stress into somebody’s work life. For example:

The five elements of wellbeing are:

Career wellbeing: You like what you do every day.

Social wellbeing: You have meaningful friendships in your life.

Financial wellbeing: You manage your money well.

Physical wellbeing: You have energy to get things done.

Community wellbeing: You like where you live. Gallup finds that the most important element — and the foundation for the other four — is career wellbeing.

Clifton, Jim; Harter, Jim. Wellbeing at Work

  • Mental
  • Physical
  • Social
  • Financial
  • Digital

All of these things can have negative effects on each other. Especially after COVID, when people may have lost jobs or had to adjust to working from home. This would have led to a lack of physical movement, social interaction, and possibly financial trouble. Downfalls in any of these areas contribute to a lot of stress and even depression in those not sure how to handle it. Ensuring that these things are addressed when introducing a philosophy of wellbeing into the workplace will leave employees feeling happier, stress-free, and secure.

As a leader, what can you do?

Being a leader or employer there are some ways that you can improve how you manage wellbeing across your workforce.

  • Regularly check in with your team members. Ask how they are doing, feeling, or if they need any help or advice.
  • Act on it. If you see an employee struggling with one or multiple aspects of their job or life, try to help them. Ask them if there is anything you can do to help, or just talk to them.
  • Find ways to create a safe space for employees. Normalise talking about wellbeing at work and try to implement a wellbeing strategy into the workplace.
  • Learn to recognise the early signs of someone who could be stressed. Perhaps start implementing a stress management initiative?

There are many ways to improve wellbeing in the workplace. If you would like to know more about how to introduce a wellbeing strategy, or how to manage employee stress, do not hesitate to contact Alison Charles here:

Tel: 07768 493157

Office: 020 3290 3157

Email: alison@alisoncharles.co.uk
Twitter: @alisonjcharles
LinkedIn: Alison Charles
Facebook: Alison Charles: Real Resilience

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How Important is Work Flexibility

How is flexibility perceived?

Many companies see flexibility working as an option, however it is not.  All workers within the UK have a legal right to request flexible working if they have been working for the same company for 26 weeks and the company has to review all requests in a reasonable manner.  However, there should be a sound business reason as to why they are not able to consider flexible working.

You can find more information on the ACAS website:ACAS: The right to request flexible working

Employers give many reasons why employees’ cannot work flexibly. These aregument do not stand up with current technology. Companies have no excuse with technology of today.

Get with the programme! Clearly all of these issues are easy to overcome.

Happier Employees

Flexible working can lead to a happier and productive workforce. It can have a huge impact on employee satisfaction.  Employees are more committed to their role with flexibility.  No one want to feel that management think they are skiving off work.

Research has shown that employees are less stressed as flexible working allows them to work around responsibilities outside of their job.  It helps them balance their work-life schedule better.  It in turn leads to improved employee health.

Flexibility works both ways.  Companies can save cost by reducing the need for office space. Employees are less stressed so overall health is better. Therefore better health equals less sick days equals reduced cost. It is a no brainer.

Helping to attract and retain employees

It is a good attraction tool if companies are looking to recruit potential employees.  Employess might not all want to work from home,  so not everyone will take up the offer. Employees can choose according to thier circumstances.

It improves the company’s rate of retention as employees’ would be less likely leave for a company who does not offer this benefit.

With the focus these days on sustainability and the footprint companies are leaving on the environment, work flexibility assist companies in becoming more greener – employees do not have to travel to work which leaves a smaller carbon footprint and as already mentioned, smaller work space is required.

Clearly there are benefits for both employers and employees by adopting flexible working. So by setting clear boundaries it can work.

Written by Alison Charles and Reyhana Jano

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