The link between wellbeing and productivity

It’s no secret that people who are suffering with mental health issues. If you’re feeling stressed and burnt out, you don’t perform well at work. In a supportive environment,employees will be more engaged and better equipped to do their jobs to the best of their ability. 

Poor mental health costs UK businesses £45 billion per year. There’s increasing pressure on businesses to do more to support their employees. We’ve previously discussed how 80% of organisations are seeing a rise in demand for mental health support. Now we look at the link between wellbeing and productivity and what your business can do to support your people, allowing your employees to be more engaged and productive. 

Employee satisfaction results in higher productivity

Just as you protect other assets within your business, it’s vital that you safeguard your most valuable asset – your people. Unhealthy and disengaged staff can have a hugely negative impact on productivity and your bottom line. 

According to research carried out by Oxford University, happy employees are 13% more productive. The study found that when workers are happier, they work faster and are more engaged with their tasks. Common sense would suggest that the correlation between wellbeing and productivity is obvious. However, the research carried out by Oxford is the strongest evidence discovered to prove the connection. 

Improved wellbeing reduces presenteeism

The latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that 17.9 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2019/20. But what about the people who still turn up for a day’s work when they feel unwell? Research has revealed that productivity lost to presenteeism is four times greater than to absences. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO)  links wellbeing to ‘higher levels of employee engagement and lower levels of absenteeism and turnover.’ Higher productivity is clearly a result of higher levels of morale and satisfaction within your business. 

Burnout is on the rise 

Burnout is workplace stress that isn’t successfully managed. Described as an ‘occupational phenomenon’ by the World Health Organisation, it’s surprising to find that the number of hours worked isn’t the biggest cause of burnout. Research shows that how employees experience workload is the biggest contributing factor to burnout, with 44% of workplace stress being caused by workload.

Good communication, better time management, and support from senior team members can go a long way to improving the situation for those suffering with burnout at work. An unmanageable workload leaves your employees feeling defeated before they’ve even started. Ensure your expectations are fair for a more productive and happier workforce in the long run.  

How to improve the link between wellbeing and productivity

It’s important to go straight to the source if you want to effectively improve the link between wellbeing and productivity in your business. 

Talk to your employees to find out how you can offer more support. We’re living in an ever changing working world. Where possible, embrace flexibility and allow your employees to work when they feel most comfortable and productive. Encourage your employees to take breaks and avoid setting unrealistic expectations and deadlines. 

These steps can go a long way to improving the productivity and wellbeing of your people. 

At AFP Digital, we’re here to support your business with the right tools to help your business work smarter. We’ve got a wide range of solutions on offer to increase your productivity and give your employees the right tools for the job. Ready to find out more? Talk to us today.

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