Workplace wellness: 5 tips for a healthier office environment

In a society where an organization’s most valuable resource is its people, cultivating a healthy and content workforce is essential to achieving enhanced overall performance. In the contemporary workplace, the significance of employees’ well-being has gained better recognition. This stems from the alarming figures on workplace wellness recorded worldwide.

In numbers

According to research conducted by Asana involving 10,000 knowledge workers across seven countries, approximately 70 percent of individuals encountered burnout within the past year.

The study also shows that when people experience burnout, they tend to exhibit lower morale (36 percent of respondents) and reduced engagement (30 percent). There will also be an increase in errors (27 percent) and a higher likelihood of miscommunication (25 percent).

In Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, workplace wellness also remains a concern. In a McKinsey Health Institute survey, the results show that two-thirds of the respondents experienced poor mental health and well-being or had a formal diagnosis of a mental health condition. Additionally, one out of every three respondents reported symptoms of burnout.

On the other end of the spectrum, three-quarters expressed happiness with their work environment. This contentment was associated with employees enjoying a sense of purpose in their professional roles. This is coupled with positive relationships within the workplace.

Enhancing workplace wellness

In the GCC and beyond, organizations and governments recognize the importance of promoting employees’ wellness. For instance, the UAE has established its National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing. 

If you’re an organization seeking to improve your people’s wellness, here are 5 tips to follow.

1. Implement supportive practices and systems

In any organization, having the right policies, practices and procedures is vital. This is especially true if you’re implementing a change as impactful and relevant as improving wellness among your people. 

Start by reviewing your existing systems and checking what you can realistically adjust. For instance, you can offer better flexibility by allowing a remote or hybrid setup. Alternatively, you can implement flexible working hours to improve work-life balance and reduce stress. Also, provide vacation and paid time off. More importantly, ensure that your people are properly compensated.

As part of your practices and programs, you can also provide resources such as stress management workshops and counseling services. In conjunction, you can make your physical space more conducive by dedicating meditation or relaxation areas. 

Read: Unveiling employee preferences: The significance of Working from Anywhere mode

2. Know that physical well-being matters, too

Improving wellness among employees entails a holistic approach. After all, physical and mental health are correlated to one another: Research shows that about one in three people with long-term physical health conditions also battle some form of a mental health concern. 

This is why you must also foster physical well-being, which you can do through various avenues. One way you can encourage them to stay fit is to introduce employee perks like gym memberships and yoga classes. You can even go the extra mile by investing in on-site fitness facilities for your people’s convenience. 

Launching diet-related initiatives, such as stocking nutritious snacks and promoting dietary awareness, further helps employees lead a healthier lifestyle. Meanwhile, transforming workspaces into more ergonomic ones can boost comfort and overall well-being.

Fundamentally, you must also conduct periodic health screenings and check-ups. This will facilitate early detection and better management of potential health issues.

3. Create a meaningful and inclusive work environment

Having a sense of purpose and finding meaning in the work that they do — this is a critical recipe for creating a healthier work environment for employees. To do this, ensure that your employees’ passions and strengths align with their responsibilities and that they have a reasonable workload. Acknowledge their unique roles and offer career development opportunities. By helping nurture their talents and skills, you are empowering them to improve in their respective fields, all while making them feel that they are an essential asset to the organization.

Apart from boosting employees individually, you must also improve social connections within the workplace. To address this, encourage team-building activities, host social gatherings, and promote cross-department collaborations.

4. Ask for feedback — and modify your programs accordingly

Getting feedback from the right people (in this case, your employees) is a vital step in assessing the effectiveness of your initiatives. Roll out surveys and implement a mechanism that solicits opinions and suggestions to gain valuable insights from your people. Once you know their sentiments, utilize that information to fine-tune your programs. Identify a common ground and make the necessary adjustments to align your agenda with their actual needs.

Remember that communication is vital in any organization. Making your employees feel heard can boost morale and improve overall employee satisfaction.

5. Make sure there’s effective leadership

Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence’s research emphasizes that it’s not only employees (60 percent) who contemplate leaving their current positions in search of opportunities that offer improved well-being support. According to their survey, 64 percent of managerial staff and, more notably, 75 percent of C-suite executives are also considering the same.

This emphasizes the need to strengthen leaders’ capacity to navigate the ever-evolving demands of the modern workspace. It’s crucial to encourage leaders to set an example by incorporating well-being practices into their routines and making their mental health a top priority. Effective leaders should also prioritize transparent communication, inspire and empower their teams and nurture open and collaborative relationships to address concerns, including burnout.

Final thoughts

Today, it is inadequate to simply say that people are an organization’s most important asset. More importantly, a healthy workforce is a vital resource that boosts overall performance. By shifting the focus on workplace wellness, organizations can reap long-term rewards — not just for the employees themselves but for the entity as a whole.

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