Employee wellbeing, workplace wellbeing, and job wellbeing are terms often used to describe how employees feel and how well they are doing in their workplace. In this article, we will explore what workplace wellbeing really is and why it is so important.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines wellbeing as a positive state experienced by individuals and society. Similar to health, it is a resource for everyday life, determined by social, economic, and environmental conditions. Wellbeing encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and society to contribute meaningfully. Societal wellbeing can be measured by its resilience, capability to act, and overcome challenges.
The Importance of Employee Wellbeing
Employee wellbeing and workplace wellbeing have various definitions and are very broad concepts. There is no consensus on a specific definition, but numerous interdisciplinary studies show that workplace wellbeing is a combination of several factors. It reflects an individual's assessment of various work-related areas.
Psychological Wellbeing in the Workplace
Psychological wellbeing in the workplace reflects a person's personal experience and subjective assessment of work-related factors. For example, job engagement, job satisfaction, positive emotional experiences at work (joy, happiness, enthusiasm, etc.), personal and professional growth, meaningfulness of work, psychological safety, and other work-related factors are what constitute employee wellbeing at work.
It is clear that it is important to define the boundaries of wellbeing to understand which wellbeing factors or their combination are most relevant in a specific context to accordingly create a company’s wellbeing vision, set specific goals, and implement appropriate wellbeing programs and interventions.
How to Improve Employee Wellbeing?
To improve employee wellbeing, it is important to implement several measures:
Measuring Wellbeing. Use surveys and studies to understand how employees feel and what is important to them. This allows the company to develop targeted improvements.
Developing Wellbeing Strategies. Based on the obtained data, develop strategies aimed at improving employee wellbeing in specific areas, such as promoting psychological safety and a supportive culture, leadership training, supportive internal policies, job design changes or improvements, stress management training for managers and employees, flexible working time options, and promoting work-life balance through behavioral modeling, internal regulations, HR process and policy improvements, and other measures.
Leadership Training. Train managers at all levels to recognize and address employee wellbeing issues. Managers need to be able to provide support and foster a positive work environment. They also need to be able to take care of themselves, promote team engagement, job satisfaction, and other indicators. This is a significant task that requires a solid knowledge and experience base.
Implementing Sustainable Wellbeing Initiatives. Continuously implement and improve initiatives that promote employee wellbeing, such as fostering and maintaining a supportive and psychologically safe culture through strategic development initiatives, fair and organized HR processes and policies, health promotion programs, team-building activities, regular conversations and consultations with employees, and many others.
Conclusion
Employee wellbeing is essential for successful business operations. By ensuring a supportive and healthy work environment, companies can promote higher productivity, reduce employee turnover, and improve the overall work atmosphere. Investments in employee wellbeing are a long-term investment that pays off.
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