Wellbeing at work

With work related stress and health care costs on the rise in Ireland and elsewhere the need for investment in corporate wellness cannot be over stated.  A 2018 study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Job Stress and Working Conditions: Ireland in comparative perspective found that job stress among employees in Ireland doubled from 8% in 2010 to 17% in 2015. Similarly, a Health Insights report published by the Vhi (Ireland’s leading health insurer) on Mental Health in the Corporate Workplace (2018) found that mental health is a growing concern for all with more than one in five extremely or very stressed at work. The report presents worrying levels of unhappiness, dissatisfaction and stress amongst a significant proportion of the working population. Those under the age of 34 tend to characterise their levels of stress as problematic rather than as part of the normal rhythm and flow of life. This, the report suggests, indicates a lack of resilience amongst this particular age cohort. The report recommends a greater focus on resilience training to enhance employee’s mental health. What is clear is that the mental health and wellbeing of employees is critical for maintaining employee productivity, innovation and satisfaction as well as building resilience in the face of organisational turbulence and challenges. An integrated, holistic and comprehensive employee wellness initiative can have a range of far reaching benefits for both employers and employees alike including:

• Enhanced Employee Health Behaviours.
• Reduced Health Care Costs.
• Improved Employee Cohesiveness, Engagement and Productivity.
• Better Stress Management.
• Reduction in Stress Related Absenteeism.
• Improved Employee Retention and Recruitment.
• Enhanced Employee Morale and Engagement.
• Achieved Company Objectives.
• Foundation for Sustainable and Long-term Wellbeing Initiatives.

Wellbeing means more than just focusing on a person’s physical health. It is a holistic understanding of someone’s physical, emotional, mental and social state.   When employees are in a state of wellbeing at work they are more likely to work productively and creatively, build positive relationships with others, develop better resilience and stress management skills and make a meaningful contribution. In other words, they are optimally primed to fulfil their own potential at work.

According to a 2017 study by Dublin based EU agency Eurofound and using data from 28 countries currently in the EU, the average hours worked per week in the majority of European countries is 38 hours compared to 39 hours in Ireland (the lowest was France at 35.6 hours).  In addition, Ireland is below the average number of annual leave days (20) compared to for example France, Germany and the United Kingdom (25).  Given that we spend so much of our time at work it stands to reason that maintaining and promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace should be a high priority for both employers and employees.  The concept of workplace or corporate wellness has extended beyond the traditional scope of exposure to risks and hazards and an emphasis on workplace safety.  It now represents a much broader paradigm incorporating physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, social connectivity, financial education and overall job satisfaction.

Corporate Wellness Programmes are often as diverse as the people who participate in them.  However, according to leading members of the Forbes Coaches Council* effective wellbeing initiatives have a number of core elements including:

• Stress Management (i.e in the form of mindfulness training).
• Education on Nutrition and access to organic, wholesome and reasonably priced food in workplace cafeterias.
• Emotional Intelligence Development Training
• Financial Education (based on stages in one’s life and career)
• On-site Fitness Programmes (i.e. lunchtime walks or yoga classes).

Resilience building has also received significant attention in recent years as a means of enhancing employee wellbeing.  The Harvard Business Review defines resilience as “the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and keep going in the face of adversity”.  Resilience is not only the ability to weather a difficulty, but also to emerge from it stronger and better prepared to face new challenges in the future.  In the corporate world, resilience has gained significant impetus because business leaders increasingly recognise that resilient employees are more likely to recover quicker from an adverse situation and that resilient teams build competitive advantage and growth opportunities.  At its core, resilience means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences and finding the intrinsic drive, motivation, and wherewithal to achieve goals in turbulent times.  Resilience building initiatives are one of the key recommendations to emerge from the Vhi Health Insights report referred to earlier.

What is evident is that the landscape of the workplace is changing and evolving. Employers are increasingly recognising the numerous mutual benefits of promoting a positive wellness culture in the workplace.   Successful and sustainable initiatives demand a committed and integrated approach between employers and employees alike with a focus on employee engagement, support and motivation.

References

14 Employee Well-Being Initiatives That Will Boost Engagement And Productivity