What is well-being at work?

By BUKINGPROPERTIES
10th September, 2024

Workplace well-being (WWB) is the term that characterizes how professional occupation affects overall health and happiness. When a company prioritizes WWB, its teams tend to feel more satisfied and experience fewer stressful episodes, dealing healthily with the adversities of routine .

Factors that contribute to employee well-being include:


  • Physical health;
  • Emotional health;
  • Financial health;
  • Mental health;
  • Social welfare.

Fully comprehending what well-being at work is and what the involved dimensions are, for a company to deal with the misalignment of one or more of such factors, it was impacting professional performance, work engagement, talent retention, and business success.

What are the pillars of well-being?

The pillars of well-being are: physical, social, financial and mental. The first relates to safety at work and ergonomics; the second to the quality of internal and external relationships; the third to the financial return on professional commitment and the fourth to the health of mental and emotional functions .

Studies on well-being assess BET as an indicator of quality of life at work. Even though it is a subjective aspect, employees' perception of each pillar is essential for satisfaction, fulfillment and happiness.

However, depending on the organizational climate or the company's management method, work can be a source of physical and psychological exhaustion for employees.

Therefore, companies must be attentive to the work environment and have effective actions aimed at the main needs of the team, offering full support to employees in resolving internal conflicts and even issues outside of work.

How to promote well-being at work?

The planning is the keystone to making the pillars of well-being part of your corporate values ​​and the running of the day-to-day business. Keeping this in mind, we have listed below some ideas on health and wellbeing in companies that are sure to inspire you into making a change or two.

We have divided the list of tips into four parts to make it easier to match them to the pillar to which each one refers. Check it out!

Health

Employee well-being is critical to their productivity at work. Keeping this in mind, the following suggestions:

1. Provide healthy snacks

Choosing the type of snack that the company offers is a demonstration of care for well-being at work.

This is because it is possible to set up a section full of cookies, juices, soft drinks, candy, among other treats, but access to products high in fat, sugar and salt is not the best for the team's health.

Invest in healthy snacks that have a list of good ingredients and nutrients, even if they are processed products. Natural and protein-rich yogurts, protein bars, cereals and nuts in bulk, as well as fresh fruit are great options.

2. Encourage lunch breaks

The lunch break is, in fact, mandatory, but in many companies skipping this break is part of the culture (often implicit) in the name of supposed productivity.

However, it is a fact that no one performs well when hungry, do you agree? Therefore, prevent this behavior from spreading by establishing a lunch and snack break policy , not only complying with the period established by law, but also encouraging this behavior.

Have a space for the team to store and heat food, with a refrigerator, tables and chairs

and sink, away from the workspace, is a way to improve the quality of break time and the comfort of employees.

3. Respect sick leave and time off deadlines

One behavior that indicates a lack of well-being at work is when an employee feels anxious about missing work even when they are sick and have a doctor's note.

Therefore, it is essential to monitor the work of managers, who can be the source of team anxiety and even the behavior of employees to avoid a toxic work environment.

Therefore, have clear HR policies, inform employees how they work and reinforce compliance with deadlines related to health problems and time off to avoid inconveniencing the person. Ideally, the team should be integrated and reorganize itself when necessary.

4. Include plants and plenty of natural light in work environments

Natural light has a proven link to employee productivity and well-being at work.

A study by Cornell University in the United States, published in the Harvard Business Review , concluded that offices whose spaces are optimized to allow the entry of natural light had a 51% reduction in eye fatigue, 63% in complaints of headaches and 56% in drowsiness among members.

5. Provide mental health care for employees

Mental health involves psychological, neurological, and mental factors. When a person has problems related to these and emotional issues, they may find it difficult to seek help.

Therefore, one way for companies to contribute to this aspect of well-being at work is to offer mental health care to their team members. Some examples of initiatives are:

  • Mental health portal with content and tips;
  • Confidential support channel to request support;
  • Access to therapy with specialized professionals for initial support;
  • Partnerships with yoga and meditation centers in the city, among others.

The positioning of companies in relation to the health of their employees is strategic, as it directly affects results.

Social

Employees shouldn't live just for work. Socializing and interacting in the workplace is also important for well-being.

6. Encourage the formation of groups with common interests

Actions aimed at well-being at work can help bring the team closer together and encourage them to carry out activities together.

A simple idea is to encourage the formation of groups for employees to share common interests and participate in challenges, such as local running events, bike trails and even marathon preparation.

Programs can also be internal, promoting a training session of a specific modality per week with different professionals, encouraging both integration and physical activity.

7. Encourage informal interactions

The key to successful team engagement programs is to offer incentives, but not to force interaction or force people to participate.

To diversify opportunities, encourage informal interactions , such as happy hours, team traditions, annual trips, among others.

A respectful and pleasant relationship with coworkers contributes to well-being and job satisfaction. Formal and informal coexistence increases engagement and trust, creating a support network, reducing stress in the company and increasing productivity.

Financial and career

Every professional wants to grow in their career and, with that, improve financially and reach new goals. Some incentive actions in this regard are:

8. Reframe performance evaluations

From a tense moment, the performance evaluation can be a moment for the employee to reflect on their professional purpose and career development.

Having a purpose makes people feel like they are dedicating their time and skills to a meaningful cause. So use performance reviews to find out how employees feel about their current position.

After all, many performance problems come from dissatisfaction and, therefore, these must be expressed and resolved for the company to retain good employees.

9. Create a recognition program

An effective way to promote well-being at work is to recognize employees for projects well executed. A recognition program can include one or more actions, such as:

  • Establish a promotions policy;
  • Hold individual appreciation meetings;
  • Share highlights on social media or internal newsletters;
  • Create an Employee of the Month Program
  • Create a policy for raises or bonuses according to the role, among others.

10. Gift the team with useful gifts

Giveaways are a common solution in companies, but you can go beyond the traditional pen and shirt with the company logo, don't you agree? Here are some suggestions for items that can be used to their full potential:

  • 1L bottles to encourage water intake;
  • Accessories and clothing for physical activities;
  • Thermal bottles and mugs to carry coffee or tea;
  • Reusable and ecological cutlery, cups and straws;
  • Seasonal accessories such as raincoats, umbrellas, caps or beanies.

If you want to increase well-being at work with company gifts, always think about the usefulness of the solution and be creative.

Work-life balance

Work-life balance is a challenge for many professionals. Therefore, it is essential that the company pays attention to these issues and has initiatives such as:

11. Allow for a flexible work schedule

In the post-pandemic market, flexible working hours are a demand from professionals to have a more adjustable, less stressful and more comfortable routine.

To implement this workplace wellness initiative, plan a policy with clear guidelines that works for your company.

Some examples of flexible work schedule policies are: condensed work week (e.g., four-day work week ), working from home (select days or all the time), and fully or partially customized work schedules.

12. Promote volunteer opportunities within the company

Those who donate part of their time to volunteering receive benefits, such as reduced stress and anxiety, as well as increased self-esteem and emotional well-being, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

Promote opportunities for company employees to volunteer on partner projects or publicize city actions. Increase engagement by forming groups to encourage unity and dedicate part of their free time to projects.

13. Customize leave times

Key leave, such as maternity and paternity leave, often generates debates about the short duration of both. Internally evaluate and customize the time that the company offers to employees so that they can strengthen family ties.

Another initiative is the inclusion of a daycare center in the company so that mothers and fathers can work in peace and dedicate themselves to their tasks, feeling at peace about the well-being of their children.

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