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Many things have to be taken into consideration when working in a company. One of these things is the well-being of the company’s employees. Naturally, it is crucial to at least maintain employee well-being, if not actively improve it, to get the best performance possible from employees. However, doing so is often much easier said than done. Employees respond to various tactics differently and might have other concepts of what it means for the company to maintain their well-being. Regardless, it is important to discuss what employee well-being is and the returns on investment if time and resources are devoted to maintaining employee well-being.
Definition of Employee Well-being
It is crucial to have a clear and accurate definition of employee well-being before working to maintain or improve it. One definition that is both simple and useful is that employee well-being is the emotional and mental health of the employees combined with a feeling of contentment and a positive attitude to work. Employees who have a high level of well-being feel optimistic about their work lives and have a bright attitude when it comes to their work.
Additionally, recognize that there are five pillars of employee well-being. It’s important to discuss these so one can ensure they are taking good care of their employees’ well-being. The five pillars of employee well-being are financial, social, community, physical and career. The career pillar refers to an employee’s overall satisfaction with the responsibilities and tasks they have to handle every day. The social pillar refers to an employee maintaining positive relationships with loved ones and friends.
The financial pillar means an employee is managing their finances successfully. The physical pillar refers to the basic health of an employee, which allows them to have energy and perform their daily functions. The community pillar means an employee is establishing connections with other people in their place of residence. Of course, not all of these pillars are affected by what happens in the workplace as strongly as others. However, supporting these five pillars of employee well-being is crucial to employees contributing as much as possible in the workplace. There are multiple benefits to helping maintain employee well-being, some of which are more obvious than others.
Good Employee Well-Being Improves Productivity
In all industries, managers seek ways to improve their employees’ productivity. Some managers use incentive programs, and others seek to implement more effective time management initiatives. However, one way managers can improve employee productivity is to help their employees maintain their well-being. After all, employee well-being is one of the most important components of employee productivity. Ensuring that the well-being of employees is taken care of will motivate them to be more productive. Employees with good well-being also have more emotional and mental energy to devote to being productive in the workplace.
Good Employee Well-Being Increases Employees’ Ability to Solve Problems
Another benefit of helping employees maintain good well-being is that it increases their problem-solving ability. It’s difficult to solve problems with low emotional and mental energy. As a result, making sure employee well-being is as good as possible allows employees to solve problems much more effectively. It’s also worth noting that employees with good well-being are more likely to come up with unique and creative solutions to any problems they encounter.
Promote Employee Well-Being by Showing Appreciation
One thing leaders within a company can do to promote employee well-being is to show their appreciation for the hard work of their employees. Doing so can increase employee morale and encourage a sense of gratitude within the company culture. Employees will feel a greater sense of purpose when it comes to their work if they are shown the proper appreciation they deserve. Additionally, employees will also likely feel more motivated at work since they know they will receive recognition if they earn it.
Evaluate and Address the Organizational Threats to Employee Well-Being
Addressing and evaluating the threats within the company is another way to promote employee well-being. Some examples of threats to employee well-being include lack of purpose, burnout or an uneven balance between employees’ work lives and their personal lives. Once these threats have been identified, address them accordingly.
A possible solution to a lack of purpose is to reevaluate organizational goals and see if employees connect with these goals or not. If not, the company might want to consider changing these goals to give employees a greater sense of purpose. In any case, dealing with organizational threats to employee well-being will benefit the company in the short- and long-term.
