Innovative organisations are now adopting a forward thinking approach to this issue as recognition of its importance in improving employee and organisation outcomes.
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of promoting employee engagement and wellbeing and provide strategies that organisations can use to foster a healthy and engaged workforce.
What is Employee Engagement?
Employee engagement is the measure of the relationship an employee has with the organisation. Many organisations measure this through employee turnover and satisfaction levels. Examples of this being, the probability of employees saying positive things about your organisation, putting in their best efforts, and choosing to remain with you for a longer tenure. Since employee engagement directly informs whether people are willing to invest their time, energy and intellect into the organisation, it is what most employers want to measure/predict, understand and gain insights into.
What is Employee Wellbeing?
The general wellbeing of an individual is comprised of several key categories:
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Physical
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Mental
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Emotional
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Spiritual
Gallup (Global Analytics and Advice Firm in the US) breaks wellbeing down in the following categories:
Career
You like what you do
Social
You have meaningful relationships
Financial
You manage money well
Physical
You have energy to get things done
Community
You like where you live
Looking holistically at wellbeing in all the above areas, is vital for an employee’s health. Employee engagement relies on the wellbeing of an employee to be able to endure. For example, you may have an employee who shows high levels of engagement in their feedback on your organisation, their work performance and tenure but has poorer levels of wellbeing in the above categories. This can place the employee at risk of workplace ‘burnout’, which then will significantly impact both engagement and further reduce their wellbeing markers.
Promoting a healthy and engaged workforce
Many organisations profess that employees are their greatest asset. An asset is something you invest money, time and resources to build further value. Other than investing in training and additional employee benefits, investing into the health of your workforce is extremely important as a means of improving physical, mental and even social health.
Communication:
Open and transparent communication is critical for employee engagement. Employees need to feel that they are part of the decision-making process and that their opinions are valued. Regular team meetings, one-on-one conversations with managers, and company-wide updates can help foster a sense of transparency and openness.
Recognition:
Recognising employees for their hard work and achievements is essential for employee engagement. Employees who feel appreciated and valued are more likely to be engaged and motivated. Organisations can recognise employees through initiatives like employee of the month programs, awards or bonuses.
Career Development:
Employees want to feel that they have opportunities for growth and development within the organisation. Providing training and development opportunities, mentoring, and career planning can help employees feel invested in their careers and the organisation.
Health and Safety:
Providing a safe and healthy work environment is essential for promoting employee wellbeing. Organisations should prioritise workplace safety by providing training and safety equipment, and ensuring that workplace hazards are identified and addressed.
Work-Life Balance:
Employees need to feel that they have a balance between their work and personal life. Organisations can promote work-life balance by offering flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or flexible schedules.
Mental Health:
Mental health is an essential aspect of employee wellbeing. Organisations can promote mental health by providing resources, such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), counselling services, and stress management training. Mental Health First-Aid training can be a useful addition for leaders and employees to assist in identifying and assisting those with mental health signs and problems.
Physical Health:
Physical health is also crucial for employee wellbeing. Organisations can promote physical health by offering wellness programs, such as gym memberships, healthy eating options, wellness challenges and onsite professional services.
At Employ Health, we like to partner with organisations to assist them on a journey to proactive workplace health.
We offer a range of services to promote and engage health and wellbeing of your employees:
Injury Management
Onsite Physiotherapy for management of any early musculoskeletal symptoms reported by employees.
Injury Prevention
Manual risk and employee capacity assessments
Health & Wellness
Engage employees through Tool Box topics, various styles of exercise-based interventions/classes, Health and Wellness programs/challenges, Mental Health Programs, etc.