As employers have evolved and become more interested in employee wellbeing during the past few decades, one thing has become clear. Productivity and employee wellbeing are interconnected. Employee wellbeing refers to an employee’s health, happiness, and satisfaction at work.
People used to believe that employees performed at their best under stress; however, evidence suggests that a stressful work environment has a negative impact on employee productivity in both the long and the short-term. When employees are stressed, sick, or burnt out, there is a noticeable decrease in their ability to be productive. Put simply, people work better when they feel better. Don’t believe us? Here are 5 ways productivity and employee wellbeing are connected.
Healthy Employees Lower Health Costs
An unhealthy workforce can be incredibly costly to employers. Every year, companies spend billions of dollars on healthcare costs. A good portion of the costs are related to preventable medical issues. As a result, employees may lose many productive hours at work due to a significant reduction in the capacities of unhealthy employees.
To mitigate these costs, many companies have worked to create programs that promote the overall wellbeing of their employees. The data suggests that the dollars put into these programs are well spent.
For every dollar spent on wellness programs, companies can see a substantial reduction in costs related to medical issues and absences. These programs must be tailored to each workplace, but typically include encouraging exercise, meditation, weight loss, healthier eating habits, and stress reduction.
Healthy Workplaces Increase Employee Resilience and Retention
A workplace that strives to improve the wellbeing of their employees typically has workers who can be more productive for longer durations.
By making the working environment more comfortable, allowing greater work flexibility, and encouraging healthier habits in employees, companies can have a healthier workforce that does not view coming to work as a negative event. Workplaces that implement these strategies tend to have lower turnover rates, reducing the costs associated with training new employees.
Healthy Workplaces Decrease Tension and Toxicity
Workplace wellness programs can help create company cultures that are less stressful and tense. Employers know that stress and tension in a workplace decreases the chances of employees having pleasant, cooperative interactions with their peers. When companies have an environment teeming with tension and toxicity, productivity plummets overall. Wellness programs that equip employees with healthy ways of releasing and addressing stress are crucial to the development and maintenance of a healthy, productive workplace.
Happy Workplaces Increase Job Satisfaction
It is common for employees to feel unfulfilled and dissatisfied with their work as a result of the conditions under which they labor. When employees feel stressed and disconnected from their jobs, it is likely that their work will suffer. Fostering a sense of autonomy and individuality is one way to improving employee job satisfaction. Employees who feel as if they are treated as replaceable tend to care less about the quality of their work. To combat this, employers can find ways to celebrate employees and demonstrate a commitment to their overall wellbeing.
Happy, Healthy Workplaces Have Better Communication
Employees who feel they are heard in the workplace tend to experience improved emotional and mental health. Fostering a workplace that encourages communication can improve moods, relationships, problem-solving abilities, and stress. All of this can significantly increase employee productivity. Cultivate an environment that ensures that employees can openly share ideas and discuss various issues.
Employees are not merely tools that exist to serve the company’s interests. They are whole human beings with needs, wants, and desires that must not be ignored. Historically, employee productivity has been the primary concern, while employee wellbeing and happiness have come second. But, in order to have a thriving business, you need productive employees who are healthy and happy as well.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can improve productivity and employee wellbeing at your business, contact us today and read about how we do employee wellness differently. We have a number of programs and strategies will help improve wellbeing and health at your company.