“Especially when you’re at a high level in an organization, criticism can be devastating to an employee. I prefer to praise employees for what they’re doing right, and it tends to lead to them doing more of the same. Not always, but it’s the way I choose to bet.” – Sir Richard Branson
Happy employees are something to prioritise.
Not only are happy employees nicer to be around and easier to work with, but happy employees have been proven to be more dedicated, more productive and more creative. Also, as a human being and conscious leader, surely you’d rather have a workforce that loves being your workforce, than one who would rather be anywhere else!
Here, we look at a range of other reasons why you should prioritise employee wellbeing, and what the many benefits are of doing so…
Why is Employee Wellbeing Important?
Loyalty
Happy employees tend to stick around. High employee turnover puts a huge strain on your resources. Also, experience within a company, having employees who know the ins and outs of everything, is invaluable when building a solid team. This kind of loyalty is built on coordination, communication and respect; all essential ingredients in a workforce’s wellbeing.
Efficient and Productive
If you manage to raise the morale and quality of life for your workers, they are likely to become more connected with their job. You should find that output and the quality of the work produced will see a boost. Happy people work, not harder necessarily, but certainly ‘better’, and with more enthusiasm!
Reputation
Word of mouth is a bigger contributor to success than ever before. It’s more important to potential employees, and news travels extremely fast. If you have a reputation for being a receptive and supportive employer, then people will talk. This is very good for your image and increases the chances of you attracting the best and brightest candidates for your business.
Engagement
People who are happy and healthy are much more likely to be fully engaged with their job. If their environment is designed with their wellbeing in mind, and their workplace is somewhere that they feel supported and appreciated, then their drive to do their best work will likely be enhanced.
How to Improve Wellbeing for Employees
A Comfortable Environment
If your place of work lacks natural light or is looking a bit worse for wear, then you and your team might be suffering because of it. There might not be much you can do about natural light, apart from decluttering a few windowsills! However, you can improve the artificial lighting. Strip lights are clinical and oppressive, why not try some softer, more calming lighting options? Also, brighten up the place with a fresh or dynamic paint job and add some plant life. The upkeep of the physical environment of a workplace is rarely a priority… but its quality really can make a huge difference as to how pleasant a place it is to work.
Flexibility
Work/life balance is more important than ever. Work isn’t everything, and we all have lives and responsibilities outside the world of our jobs. Being sensitive to this fact, and open to your employees to ensure that their job is not putting undue strain on other parts of their life is essential to workplace wellbeing and good conscious business practice.
Clean Air
Plant life improves the quality of the air, as do air conditioning and air purifying units. More fresh air and more oxygen have a direct positive effect on brain function. If you don’t already have provisions for ensuring good air quality in your workplace, then now might be a good time to think about it!
Open Channels
Open communication keeps your team connected. It ensures that everyone is in the loop, and that everyone feels heard. Many businesses have benefitted from implementing specific open communication policies and guidelines. Communication guidelines might seem a little, shall we say, ‘un-organic’. However, they merely serve as a foundation upon which to create a workplace-wide habit of openness and clarity.
Ultimately, looking after employee wellbeing and workplace resilience among your workforce is all about listening and empathy. Understand those happy individuals make a happy team, which should, in turn, make you happier as well!
By Chris Thomson
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