Workplace Wellness

Stress at work is rising each year, which is having a negative impact on employee health, happiness and productivity which in return impacts the organisation’s profits. 

Long working hours are seemingly becoming the norm. Absenteeism, presenteeism and leaveism are reportedly increasing across all industries. 

Positive wellbeing can have a huge impact on productivity and performance. 

In 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advised employers to take health and wellbeing seriously to support their employees. In return, organisations will notice increased productivity, lower absenteeism levels and improved retention.

Professor Dame Carol Black (2008) stated that “The business case for investment in the health and wellbeing of employees is inadequately understood by employers”. It is critical to those with the responsibility of looking after people in a working environment to have a good understanding of wellbeing. 

Addressing the wellbeing issues related to aspects of work can pay huge dividends and should be included in an overall practical strategy. The criticality of effective workplace wellbeing plans is key to business success. It also provides businesses with a strong social responsibility ethic underpinning practice. 

The key outcomes for an effective wellbeing strategy are; productivity, performance, lower absence rates, higher morale, motivated workforce, employee resilience and organisational effectiveness (Hesketh and Cooper, 2019). 

Even if your business is small and you do not have a dedicated HR function, the importance of having an individual who can set the scene for wellness at work is a high priority.