60% of employees say they’d feel more motivated if their employer took action to support mental wellbeing. With many workers feeling anxious about the return to work following the Covid-19 crisis, employee wellbeing is a priority.
How can your business support its people at a time when they need it most?
Involve staff in decision making
During the pandemic, we experienced a shift in working that has never been seen before. With almost 50% of the workforce working remotely, businesses had to adapt quickly.
Now that employees are returning to the office, decisions have to be made about the future. Whether your business will opt for a hybrid working arrangement, implement remote working permanently, or you decide that your business will return to office working full time; whichever option you choose it’s best to involve your staff in the decision-making process.
Everyone will have had a different experience throughout the pandemic and each individual will have different feelings about returning to the workplace. Speak to individuals and take their feedback onboard.
Ensure clear communication
Poor communication can be a significant cause of stress for employees. Staff wellbeing can be affected when they feel overloaded with information, excluded from important conversations, or unable to communicate their own views effectively.
Keep communication clear, simple, and open. As a business owner, it’s more important than ever to be accessible and responsive to your staff. Be there to answer questions and provide your people with the information they need to feel less anxious about returning to the workplace.
Encourage work/life balance
A poor work/life balance can quickly lead to employee burnout. Last year online searches for burnout symptoms increased by 24%. When your team feels stressed and burnt out, productivity, performance, and creativity decreases. Not to mention the negative impact poor work/life balance can have on the mental health of your employees.
Senior members of your team should lead by example. Focusing on productivity instead of hours worked can be an effective way to relieve your team’s stress. Encourage your employees to work sensible hours, take full annual leave entitlement, and take full lunch breaks.
Create opportunities for learning and development
93% of employees say they will stay longer at a company when the company invests in their career development. When your people feel valued and supported, they’re more engaged.
Investing in the skills and development of your team helps to maintain commitment and productivity levels. This doesn’t have to break the bank. You can use the skills and knowledge already within your business to encourage coaching sessions and job-shadowing.
Treat your people as individuals
Because we’re all different, there’s no single answer to how to achieve wellbeing in the workplace. While there are things you can do to make sure you’re doing the best you can to encourage good habits, a tailored approach is important to ensure employee wellbeing.
Make people feel safe
Creating an environment in which your employees feel safe is paramount in the times we’re currently living in. If your business is returning to the office, many of your employees are likely to feel anxious about the change.
It goes back to clear communication. Ensure your employees know about the steps you’re taking to ensure their safety. Being responsive when an employee has a question can go a long way to providing peace of mind.
At AFP Digital, we have a number of solutions available that can help your business as it works its way towards a post-pandemic world. We’ve got you covered with IT support, the latest hand sanitising technology, smart office solutions, print management, and much more. Want to find out more? Get in touch with today.