By Aoife Murtagh
What is workplace wellbeing
The term workplace wellness can be used interchangeably, generally it refers to a work environment conductive to the health and happiness of all employees within it. Today, employee wellbeing has gone beyond the typical physical wellbeing and places much more of a focus on how employees feel at work. The covid19 pandemic has highlighted concerns about employee’s wellbeing and has pushed it to the top of the business agenda.
Why is workplace wellbeing important?
The workplace is like a second home for most people with a typical employee spends around 40 hours of their week in their workplace. Workplace wellbeing reduces stress and allows for both the organisation and employees to thrive. CIPD’s health and wellbeing at work survey 2020 found that focusing their attention on employee wellbeing; increases employee morale and engagement, creates a healthy and inclusive work environment and decreases absenteeism.
How to achieve workplace wellbeing
1. Support exercise and fitness – providing cycle racks, showers and changing rooms to encourage employees to participate in physical activity.
2. Promote healthy diets and lifestyles – providing nutritious snacks like fruit and nuts.
3. Recognise staff – recognising and reward staff for exceptional work builds employee engagement and retains talent.
4. Introduce mindfulness – encourage employees to take a mindful moment before meetings for everyone to prepare and collect themselves.
5. Encourage open communication – staff can openly talk about their mental health.
Wellbeing at work is crucial to enable employees to be the best version of themselves. It’s important organisations to take responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their employees.