Why Staff Wellness is Becoming the Most Important Part of any Business
First of all, we should define what we mean by wellness in this context. Both physical and mental wellbeing. They aren't mutually exclusively and often; one can trigger the other. So as an employer how much responsibility do you have and what can you really do?
Each business is unique in their offering, but each and every business share a common element. The importance of a happy and well workforce. The scary rise of anxiety and depression within the UK is having a damaging and direct effect on all businesses. From demoralised staff to sick days and in some cases to losing highly qualified members of staff through burnout.
All businesses are in this together, and we are all learning together. There has never been more need for cohesion and open mindedness to find solutions that can fit with all the different needs a workforce has.
There are of course easy wins that each and every business can put in place straight away:
Make taking a break away from the screen mandatory at lunch time and encourage getting outside and walking within this time. Tools such as competitions for who has done the most steps that week. Create a culture of movement.
Mindset moments. A few times a day encourage mindset moments. Stand up, breathe, reset. An over worked and overwhelmed mind does not offer great problem-solving skills.
Water, water everywhere. If you offer hybrid working or have fully returned to the office, are there lots of accessible and obvious places to get water. While some caffeine is not a bad thing, an over caffeinated work force, is most likely to be dehydrated and sleep deprived.
Nutritional education. We underestimate the power of what we fuel over bodies with and how much this can affect our mood and motivation.
Menopause education. Looking into ways that all staff can be educated on how to manage menopause through diet, exercise and mindset.
Where time, space and budget will allow, investing in corporate wellness days/half days will pay off massively. Using companies that offer a selection of movement, education, mindset work and resilience. These events leave lasting impressions upon people as they are reminded how good they can feel.
Remember that a well and happy workforce is a motivated, productive and successful workforce.