Balancing the imperatives of business growth with the delicate needs of your workforce is a challenge that demands attention, compassion, and wisdom. In today's fiercely competitive business landscape, leaders are consumed by pursuing productivity and profits. While these are crucial for success, you must maintain the well-being of your invaluable employees. As responsible employers, we must prioritise nurturing employee wellness for sustainable success.
Promoting wellness will help prevent stress and create a positive working environment where employees and organisations thrive. Wellness is a key enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance. Investing in employee wellness will result in improved employee engagement, less absenteeism, and higher performance and productivity.
Read how to create a balance for success with employee engagement and satisfaction.
According to South African Psychologist and head of the MBA in Healthcare Leadership programme at Stellenbosch Business School, Professor Renata Schoeman, employees who show up and attempt to work despite their poor mental health cost South Africa almost seven times as much in lost productivity as employees who are absent due to depression. It is called ‘presenteeism’, and research shows that it comes at a greater economic cost than absenteeism.
Employers need to look into employee stress to determine the root causes, such as excessive workloads, that are driving unhealthy working practices and negatively affecting employee wellness.
The business value of employee wellness
The top three benefits of employers increasing their focus on employee wellness are:
Increased productivity
Studies on increasing productivity in the workplace, revealed reduced absenteeism and presenteeism by forty to sixty percent, and nearly eighty-six percent of employees reported improved work performance.
Increased employee retention
In a 2019 survey of mental health in the workplace, out of 1,500 employees, more than a third of the respondents said they had left a job due to stress affecting their mental health.
Enhanced employee satisfaction and engagement:
When employees feel supported, they are happier and more engaged in their work. Better outputs, improved collaboration, and enhanced innovation.
Research from a mental health charity showed that “FTSE 100 companies that prioritise employee engagement and wellness outperform the rest of the FTSE 100 by ten percent.” They go on to say that organisations that support employee wellness “reap the benefits through enhanced morale, loyalty, commitment, innovation, productivity, and profitability.” Open and supportive workplaces benefit everyone: employees, employers, and the bottom line.
Strategies to promote wellness in the workplace
Employee recognition
Employee recognition improves workplace culture and employee experience; it also improves retention by sixty-eight percent. By celebrating and complimenting their victories, your employees will feel their work is appreciated, and that is crucial to the success of your business.
“When you put people first and then surround them with processes and disciplines that recognise their efforts, performance will soar.” – David C. Novak, founder and CEO of oGoLead
Support relationship building
Work relationships play an important role in improving employee wellness, engagement, and overall satisfaction. Encouraging employees to build professional relationships with their colleagues and superiors will go a long way towards improving your company's culture.
Be open to flexibility
By being open to flexibility, employers can help employees integrate their work and personal responsibilities, reduce stress, and increase autonomy and motivation. Flexible work arrangements allow employees to schedule their work around times when they are most productive, allowing them to better deal with their stress and reducing burnout.
Lighten the workload
Employees are placed under extreme pressure due to the amount of work they are tasked with completing. Research shows an increased workload to be the major cause of workplace stress and burnout. Overworked employees are less productive and make more mistakes. This delays projects and affects the quality of the work produced, which will affect your bottom line over time. By hiring more staff, you will lighten the workload on your current employees and increase their performance.
If you are unable to invest in a permanent hire, consider hiring an independent contractor or virtual assistant for RecruitMyMom. Read our article on why hiring independent contractors is a good solution.
RecruityMyMom believes employee wellness should be at the forefront of an employer's agenda. It's not just a moral obligation; it's a strategic investment that can lead to improved productivity, reduced costs, and a happier, more engaged workforce. By taking proactive steps to promote employee well-being, you create a win-win situation where both your business and your employees thrive.
RecruitMyMom.co.za is an online agency specialising in placing skilled women in jobs, full-time and flexibly. We have a large database of skilled candidates seeking office and remote jobs - permanent or freelance. Visit our website to post a job.
