How To Look After Your Employees In 2021

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Source: iamYiam

The landscape of employee wellbeing and benefits has been changed forever, so moving forward how can your organisation take better care of your employees?

Key Takeaways

  1. Employees expectations are changing and they are demanding more from their employer
  2. Traditional perks have become stale and employees want more of a focus on their physical and mental health
  3. Implementing a wellbeing program delivers benefits for individuals and the organisation as a whole

We all know 2020 has been a tough year for individuals and businesses alike. Rather than dwell on this though, let’s look ahead to 2021 and in particular how organisations can better support employees in a much-changed work environment.

The World of Work

We spend the majority of our waking lives at work and organisations are finally appreciating the importance of employee wellbeing and the benefits it can bring to the company and the employee. It is increasingly clear that unhealthy and unengaged employees have a negative impact on productivity, innovation and the bottom line.

A survey from CareerBuilder found 31% of employees are burned out on the job. These high levels of stress manifested in poor physical and mental health with issues such as fatigue, weight gain, depression and anxiety.

Perks of the job

Companies have often turned to perks to try and retain staff such as cycle to work schemes, gym passes or half price cinema tickets. Remote working has suddenly caused many companies to re-evaluate their incentives and work culture. Suddenly having a ping-pong table out the back doesn’t really matter too much and employees’ expectations are changing.

Research from Glassdoor showed that one in two employees are now less bothered by office-based perks and are more keen on physical and mental wellbeing benefits. 87% of employees expect their employer to support them in balancing their work/life balance so it is vital that organisations react to this evolution.

The best strategies are holistic approaches that will help employees across all areas of their life quality. This will lead to a workforce that is healthier, more engaged, and more productive.

The Benefits of Happy & Healthy Employees

Looking after employee wellbeing is about protecting your human capital, which is your most valuable asset. Happy and healthier employees are more productive and also more likely to recommend their company as a good place to work.

Wellness programs are proven to reduce elevated health risks and reduce health care costs. They can lower absenteeism and presenteeism and increase employee engagement and retention.

The Future

The landscape of employee wellbeing and benefits is changing dramatically, and organisations need to adapt to employees new expectations. Instead of offering beer on tap as a perk just because it sounds cool, companies now need to seriously think about what they can do to help staff live a healthier happier life.

Introducing a wellbeing program that shows employees that they care and directly helps them improve their physical and mental health will deliver benefits for everyone and lead to a more productive future for all of us.

References

Merrill, Ray M., and Steven G. Aldana. “Improving overall health status through the CHIP intervention.” American journal of health behavior 33.2 (2009): 135-146.

Burton, Wayne N., Alan Morrison, and Albert I. Wertheimer. “Pharmaceuticals and worker productivity loss: a critical review of the literature.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 45.6 (2003): 610-621.

Aldana, Steven G., and Nicolaas P. Pronk. “Health promotion programs, modifiable health risks, and employee absenteeism.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 43.1 (2001): 36-46.

http://press.careerbuilder.com/2017-05-23-Do-American-Workers-Need-a-Vacation-New-CareerBuilder-Data-Shows-Majority-Are-Burned-Out-at-Work-While-Some-Are-Highly-Stressed-or-Both

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2016/06/workplace-well-being

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-thirds-of-american-workers-would-be-better-employees-if-they-got-more-sleep-according-to-glassdoor-survey-300542688.html

Martin Powton
I have over 13 years' experience in digital marketing and am interested in all areas of marketing, customer experience and employee wellbeing.

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