According to a recent Guardian survey that examined the well-being of employees across the voluntary and public services sectors, 93 per cent of respondents reported that they were stressed out all, some, or a lot of the time at work. Employees with poor mental and emotional well-being are generally less productive, become ill more often and are less likely to remain with their organisations.
In a related study conducted by Mind, a mental health charity, 60 per cent of employees stated that they would feel more motivated and would be more likely to recommend their organisations as good places to work if their employers took action to support well-being. Especially in the charity and not-for-profit sector where funding is scarce, the implication is clear—organisations should offer a comprehensive wellness programme to boost the well-being of staff, and to support and retain valuable employees.
To ensure that your employee’s wellness needs are effectively met, consider integrating these four programmes:
- Establish regular meetings—quarterly is recommended—for employees to safely and comfortably discuss what aspects of their jobs or work environments contribute to their stress. Then, as a group, develop potential solutions for the problems.
- Promote a healthy work-life balance. This can be achieved by instructing employees to set manageable work goals as well as by encouraging them to take short, 10- to 15-minute breaks from their work periodically.
- Provide healthier food options, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and trans-fat free snacks, in the vending machines as well as information on healthy eating. When paired with moderate exercise, a balanced diet can not only improve physical well-being, but it can increase productivity and boost mental health.
Plan a year-long wellness programme that observes relevant awareness days to help employees prioritise their well-being.
