The pandemic has had an extraordinarily impact on employee wellbeing with daily stress and daily worries presenting themselves in so many diverse ways.
Employee wellbeing has always been a core focus for HR, but it has become vividly important during the pandemic. Fostering employee wellbeing can help prevent stress and create positive working environments where individuals and organisations can thrive.
There are many impactful ways managers can support employee wellbeing and they don’t all need big budgets.
- Involve employees in dialogue and decision-making
When employees feel involved and well informed about what’s happening in the organisation, it increases motivation and helps individuals understand how their role fits into the bigger picture.
- Build social cohesion and support
Employers and managers should look for ways to build social cohesion and support – for example through team building and good leadership.
If you want to take positive actions to make the workplace a mutually supportive environment where good work relationships thrive:
- promote positive behaviours to avoid conflict and ensure fairness
- ensure policies on bullying and harassment are in place
- encourage exercise and regular social events to boost staff health, team work and mental wellbeing
- A culture of openness
Speak regularly with team members to check how they’re doing and to reflect on what might be causing them stress. Don’t be afraid to show your human side and openness to speak about personal mental health and wellbeing.
- Pay attention to work-life balance
Working long hours can have a major influence on employees’ wellbeing, and in a digital age there is a real risk individuals feel they have to always be connected. Sustained pressure and a poor work-life balance can quickly lead to stress and burnout, reduced productivity, creativity and morale.
Employers must keep this in check to protect their employees’ mental health. Empower your employees and give them autonomy so that they control their work methods and schedule. Not only to encourage a culture of taking time out when you need it and disconnecting when their work is done, but nurture that practice also and make it an acceptable way of working.
- Better support for people working from home
Just under three-quarters of organisations (72%) are providing new or better support for people working from home (CIPD Ireland).
Employers must encourage more responsible use of digital technologies and acknowledge that regular movement breaks and time away from screens are essential for good health and wellbeing.
- Remind employees to take care of themselves
To grow your wellbeing though, you need to invest in yourself, which is something that many individuals do not feel they have time, space or perhaps permission to do.
Employers need to remind their employees that there are many different things that they can do to improve their wellbeing, as presented below.
Smart employers know that organisations perform better when staff are healthy, motivated and focused. By supporting employee wellbeing, they reap the benefits through enhanced productivity, profitability, morale, loyalty, commitment and innovation.
For more on this topic read our article Wellbeing From the Top Down. You can also join several events and fundraisers, such as Darkness Into Light from Pieta House, as they are great opportunities for companies to come together and raise awareness of various mental health issues.
