Many organizations are now committed to improving workplace wellness to benefit their workforce, society, and, more importantly, to grow their business.
While employee wellness programs have become one of the key criteria for workforce retention, many other factors are also crucial to inspire companies to foster a positive culture and workplace wellness.
Indeed published insights of a 2022 Workplace Wellbeing study in which 5,026 active US workers were surveyed by Forrester Consulting. The study objective was to understand the drivers of employee wellness, the impact of health and wellbeing on productivity, stress factors at work, and other general workplace wellness topics.
Workplace Wellbeing 2022 Insights
While the broad takeaway from the study showed that employees are seeking workplace wellbeing, it was obvious that a composite of many factors had to be analyzed and put together to ensure it is achieved.
The key outcomes of the study were –
- Workforce expectations
- Impact of stress
- Employee wellbeing for workplace wellness
- Addressing concerns
Workplace Expectations
Although the pay scale and flexible working schedules are still the priorities, stress and lack of work satisfaction seem to be forcing them to quit. Almost 46% of the respondents said that their expectations about happiness at the workplace have risen in the past year.
Many felt that work impacted their life in many ways, and so companies should take care of it. While 86% believed that work is more than just the paycheck, 86% also reported that work impacted their personal happiness back home, and 82% stated that it was vital to choose organizations that cared about employee feelings and wellbeing.
To prioritize workplace wellbeing, it is crucial to know its drivers and its outcomes. According to the study, 4 key outcomes that indicate workplace wellbeing –
Of all the different factors, feeling energized at work (18%), having a sense of belonging (16%), and trust (10%) influenced the dimensions of happiness, stress, satisfaction, and purpose at the workplace.
Impact of Stress
There have been plenty of studies previously proving the strong influence of stress on employee wellbeing and productivity. According to this Indeed report, stressed employees are more likely to be less focused, less motivated, and make more mistakes.
Almost 86% of the respondents believed that workplace stress is significantly reducing their quality of life, 59% agreed it affected their performance and productivity, whereas 56% said stress inhibited growth and learning.
Of the different factors causing stress in the workplace, the top reasons were –
According to the study, although stress affects employees its impact depends on the individual’s mindset. For example, with a negative mindset, only 11% of employees are focused on daily tasks, 11% accomplish more in a shorter time, and only 10% are motivated to do well at work. On the other hand, with a positive stress mindset, 31% are likely to be more focused on their daily tasks, 28% accomplish more in a short time, and 33% are motivated to do their best at work.
Employee Wellbeing for Workplace Wellness
Although most employees agreed that their health and wellbeing are closely associated with their productivity and business success, some also felt their organizations did not prioritize it as much as they should. According to 58% of the respondents, their company believed their workforce’s health and wellbeing are closely associated with their performance at work and business success. Yet, not many are actively prioritizing employee health and wellbeing. 41% felt their organization prioritized employee wellbeing over business profits.
Around 80% of the respondents felt it was vital to know the information regarding the company’s employee wellness solutions while choosing the employer.
Employees who reported higher wellbeing at work were 87% more likely to stay with their employer, whereas the ones who reported lower wellbeing levels at work were just 16% likely to stay at their current workplace. Of the respondents who agreed their company measured happiness and wellbeing, 80% were likely to stay with their employer for at least another year.
Higher employee retention and lower turnover numbers are very likely to impact business growth and profits. And so, measuring employee wellbeing and happiness score, and addressing the concerns can help with employee retention, reflecting better business growth and success.
Addressing Health and Wellbeing Concerns
Once the goals, wellbeing score, and happiness data are in hand, it becomes easier to understand the plan with the right metrics. Taking prioritized steps to address the concerns reflects higher retention, enhanced productivity, and better employee engagement, all mirroring business growth. And the best way to know what the workforce wants or to measure the happiness score is by conducting regular pulse surveys and having the managers interact with their workforce. The study respondents revealed that managers can create impactful dynamics in the workplace –
Stress is one of the chief reasons impacting employee wellness and productivity, so companies must understand the triggers and address them accordingly. For instance, heavy workloads cause burnout, and eventually, employees quit. Since reducing workload may not be an option at many organizations, employers can make it slightly easier for the workers by allowing flexible working schedules so they can have a better work-life balance and stay happy and productive.
It is evident that companies must look beyond the regular benefits and pay to retain skilled employees. It is more about making them feel valued, energized, and satisfied at work. And the best possible and effective ways to do so is by respecting their work-life balance and focusing on their health and wellbeing with the right employee wellness solutions.