The benefits of having a healthy workforce cannot be understated, as good health and wellbeing can be a core enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance.
Adopting a proactive and preventative approach to wellbeing in the workplace can result in
- Increased staff commitment, engagement and productivity
Staff who feel valued and listened to are more likely to be engaged in the goals of the organisation, work together positively and perform to their optimal level.
- Better staff retention
A workplace culture that fosters staff loyalty and high morale is likely to keep staff for longer and reduce recruitment costs.
- Reduced sick leave and absenteeism
Staff who feel their wellbeing needs are being met are less likely to take sick leave and are more likely to return from leave taken, in a timely and sustainable way.
- A more resilient workforce
Building resilience can help people cope better with day-to-day stresses at work and problems at home. And putting the right mental health and wellbeing strategies in place can help to stop problems from escalating
- An enhanced reputation
Investing in wellbeing in the workplace sends a powerful message about your values and ethics and can help you attract a high quality workforce.
From public relations, to talent acquisition and employee retention, focusing on health and wellbeing within a business can put a positive spin on a brand’s image while boosting the morale and loyalty of those in the company. Developing the right culture through wellbeing initiatives can help companies to retain the most talented people, at the same time as maintaining the reputation as a caring employer. This is good for business and is a valuable perk for those within the company.
At the same time health and wellbeing for employees must also work for businesses. A balance needs to be struck when considering programmes for staff and the cost of these programmes for the business.
Some health schemes may be beyond a company’s budget, but there are many initiatives that can be implemented cost-effectively. A culture of wellbeing can be cultivated without a great deal of outlay. Encouraging spending lunch hour outside, walking meetings and providing fresh fruit and healthy snacks are all simple ways that can make a difference. Providing information on various health issues in places where employees relax or interact, tie-in with health awareness campaigns, or business healthcare cover are all ways that make staff feel valued and cared for.
The key though is that business leaders invest in initiatives and processes to create a culture and work environment that puts the heath and wellbeing of employees first and ultimately the business bottom line will be rewarded.
There is now a much better understanding of how health and wellbeing policies can benefit businesses but there is still an implementation gap with many organisations not embracing this agenda fully. It should not be treated as an ‘add-on’ or a box ticked, it should be at the centre of a business model and viewed as a vital source of value creation, integrated throughout the organisation and embedded in its culture, leadership and people management.
Why is this subject so important for businesses to focus on. According to Mind, the UK’s leading mental health charity. The most stressful thoughts that many people have relate to work. If people are stressed then in their downtime they may resort to unhealthy lifestyle choices which could have serious repercussions on their health and thereby creating a vicious cycle. This ultimately will lead to poorer health and thereby a likely drop in productivity and increased sickness.
It makes ethical sense that employers should shoulder some responsibility for taking care of their staff and reducing their stress levels, as well as making business sense too, as numerous studies have shown a strong link between employee wellbeing and business performance.
The end goal of any health and wellbeing initiative is a healthy workforce and this results in saved costs as absent workers due to illness, cost a business time and money. A recent report found that the UK loses around £29b in staff taking time off work for sickness.
The cost of replacing staff is also a heavy burden and studies have shown that a healthier workforce is happier and therefore more likely to stay in their job longer.
Modern businesses ignore the need for health and wellbeing policies at their peril. An effective workplace wellbeing programme can deliver mutual benefit to people, organisations, communities and economies. Healthy workplaces help people to flourish and reach their potential and by creating work environments that actively promote a state of contentment this benefits both employees and organisations alike.
As part of our ongoing Health and Wellbeing initiatives we will be launching a series of events in the new year which aim to inform and encourage businesses to embrace health and wellbeing within their workplaces.
If you would like to discuss this further, then please email our Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Xanthe Grace at xanthe.grace@dorsetchamber.co.uk.
www.dorsetchamber.co.uk/wellbeing-resources