Employee Wellness
The theory of employee wellness, for businesses of any size, is largely centered around offerings that relate to an employee’s physical health. Employee wellness programs can include programs that focus on the physical health of employees by offering gym memberships, smoking cessation incentives, better snack choices, and other ways to get your team healthier in the physical sense. Would be safe to assume that an employer would offer wellness perks with the hope of less sick days? Maybe productivity will increase because of one’s newfound physical health? Or workplace conflict, staffing issues and retention problems, employee engagement, and low morale will change for the better now that employees are eating a strict Mediterranean diet? We cannot deny the importance of taking care of one’s physical health, however wellness is actually the OUTCOME of well-being both inside and outside the workplace.
Employee Well-Being
The theory of employee well-being is that a business is committed to actively supporting emotional and mental well-being in the workplace, as well as supporting their employees personal growth. Employee well-being programs offer support and skill building in areas that are more likely to affect an individuals long term wellness outcome. All workplaces are fluid and dynamic, changing from one day to the next. Employee well-being programs offer skill building in areas such as Self-Awareness, Perspective, Communication, Social Awareness, and Stress Management, and many more. These self-management tools offer employees the opportunity to gain valuable personal insight into managing conflict, problem solving, managing stress, and maintaining a positive mindset from their own individual perspectives.
Mental and Emotional Well-Being In The Workplace
An individuals mental and emotional well-being inside or outside of the workplace is subjective, and based on personal feelings, opinions, emotions, perspectives, and experiences. The challenges and obstacles we are faced with in our every day lives can feel like they follow us into every situation we are presented with. If an individual feels like they struggle to maintain a positive mindset, manage stress, meet expectations, and foster positive relationships in their personal life it is highly likely that these struggles show up in the work environment in many different ways. A workplace culture that supports and recognizes the dynamics of employee well-being will help create a balance between work life and personal life that allows for both personal and professional growth. When employees feel valued and supported on an emotional level they will become more engaged, motivated, and ultimately committed to their work. A sustained commitment to employee well-being leads to higher retention rates, greater loyalty, and increased engagement which creates a desirable level of balance in any workplace.
The Outcome Of Wellness Through Well-Being
The reality for most of us is that we all want to feel well, think well, choose well, and live well both inside and outside of the workplace. The process to achieving a satisfactory level of individual well-being either inside or outside the workplace is to create an environment of opportunity and cultivate a supportive work culture. In order to cultivate a supportive work culture a business must make employee well-being one of their top core values. A business that chooses employee well-being as a top priority creates an environment where employees feel comfortable seeking help, making mistakes, sharing concerns, foster positive work relationships, and can dedicate themselves to both individual and professional growth. The manner and method each employee applies to their own well-being within a supportive work culture can have a major influence on their quality of life as well as their quality of work. Employees that are offered tools to support their well-being are better equipped to manage stress, move through conflict, communicate more effectively, create positive working relationships, and maintain a mindset that supports productivity and teamwork. A business that takes a pro-active approach to employee well-being will move their employees towards achieving their long term wellness goals.
