As a manager you’re bound to have heard about employee wellbeing. 

But what is wellbeing in the workplace and how can it benefit your business? 

Wellbeing doesn’t have a set meaning but is often described as the state of being happy, healthy, or comfortable and is affected by the social and environmental factors around us. 

With 76% of professionals experiencing moderate to high stress levels at work, it’s no surprise that workplace wellbeing has become a top priority for many businesses. An employee’s wellbeing is influenced by a number of factors including relationships with colleagues, resources available to them, and even their commute. And whilst we all strive for the perfect work-life balance, it’s not always easy so on occasion one will impact the other. If you’re feeling pressure at work it’s natural for this to manifest itself at home. 

Taking time to invest in employee health and wellbeing will ensure your team is content, assured, and knows support is available if they’re struggling. There are four pillars of wellbeing that will accommodate your team’s needs and make up their overall happiness.

What are the four pillars of workplace wellbeing?

Emotional 

Focus on creating an inclusive space with an open dialogue so your team knows they’re able to express any feelings or concerns, and know it’s okay to say no without feeling guilty. 

To encourage emotional wellbeing you could:

• Reinforce to your team that their mental health is a priority
• Provide resources and training on wellbeing
• Be flexible! Why not offer mental health days if these need to be taken?
• Encourage your team to take time off to relax and refresh

Financial

It can be difficult to have an open conversation when it comes to money, even if you need help or advice. The cost of living crisis has made day-to-day life harder for a lot of people, so consider this when it comes to your team’s wellbeing. 

To encourage financial wellbeing you could:

• Provide financial education resources
• Make 1-1 financial support readily available to those who need it
• Offer a good pension contribution so your employees are able to save for retirement

Physical

Much like our work-life balance, our mental and physical health go hand in hand so don’t forget to acknowledge the physical wellbeing of your team. There are many studies that prove regular physical activity can help with sleep, improve moods, and decrease stress and anxiety. 

To encourage physical wellbeing you could:

• Provide gym memberships for your team
• Encourage your team to get outside on their lunch break rather than staying at their desk 
• Organise team socials that involve being outside in the fresh air

Social 

Many companies have adopted the hybrid working model as their new normal after transitioning during the pandemic. Whilst we’ve discovered that hybrid working has lots of benefits, make sure to regularly socialise with your team! 

To encourage physical wellbeing you could:

• Be flexible – don’t stop your team from taking work from home days
• Plan regular team activities that are fun and can be enjoyed by everyone

What are the benefits of workplace wellbeing?

Having an effective employee wellbeing strategy will have a positive impact on your team and business. There are so many benefits it can bring including:

• Increased productivity and performance
• Increased employee engagement
• High retention and attraction rates
• Reduced sickness and absence
• Strong business reputation

Find out more about workplace wellbeing by downloading our free Basics of Workplace Wellbeing Guide which will help you understand the basics of workplace wellbeing and how you can prioritise your team’s wellbeing in work.