A new study carried out in the UK by YouGov on behalf of Virgin has found that more than half of all employees suffer from burnout, severe anxiety and physical and emotional exhaustion in the workplace.
At Quinyx, we believe the most successful businesses are those who enjoy work. A smiling and happy workforce is a productive and profitable workforce.
Through the past decade, both employees and employers have adapted to increasing demands on their time, resource and capacity. The moments where we ‘switch off’ and ‘unplug’ often feel like they’re few and far between.
Deadlines, the constant barrage of emails, endless meetings and even the constant stream of social media all combine to leave our minds feeling frazzled, our energy spent and our bodies wearied by the effort.
Yet a healthy workforce, who enjoy their jobs, and an employer who values wellbeing, can have a dramatic effect on morale, productivity and efficiency. Beyond this, the strength of our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing is the foundation our personal and professional lives are built on.
Having a workplace that promotes better wellbeing won’t eliminate stress but it will help the body and mind deal with stress in a more productive way. Creating positive, healthy and nurturing cultures is the responsibility of both the employer and the employee; it’s a two-way street and both need to buy into the contract.
Here’s three ways to invest in your workforce’s wellbeing:
1. It’s all about the people
People are the most important resource. Invest in people and they will thrive. This can be anything from implementing flexible working hours to making sure the health and wellbeing of staff is always at the top of the agenda. Investing in people doesn’t just mean investing in staff, but investing in customers too. Happy staff means happy customers. Combine these two and all of a sudden success speaks for itself.
2. Communicate effectively
Communication in the workplace should be consistent, open, honest and transparent; a huge amount of emotional and mental stress can stem from a lack of communication.
Good communication is the driving force behind every successful business. After all, people who don’t know what’s expected of them are unlikely to perform to their full potential. Be clear and positive in your communication at work and others will pick up on it.
3. Be healthy!
Most of us need to do a much better job of looking after ourselves, especially when we’re at work. If you have the luxury then work in ‘sprints’ where you have concerted bursts of energy before taking 5 minutes away from a screen, a phone or a desk.
Get active at work, whether through after-hours clubs or lunch-time yoga sessions. Group activities are a great way for teams to bond and help relieve pressure that people might be feeling.
Healthy eating and drinking at work is another one that will be key to making sure the focus is always there. Lose the sugary snacks and replace them with raw veg and fruit while drinking plenty of water. It’ll mean higher energy levels and improved mental sharpness.
And if you ever get the chance, walk or cycle into the office. It means you’ll get a hit of endorphins rushing through your system before you settle into to the work routine.
The workforce management revolution is allowing businesses to use software to help solve communication problems, empower staff and reduce stress levels. With these kinds of systems communication can happen with the click of a button and feedback is instant meaning employees spend less time worrying if they need extra shifts, have to swap when they are working or want to apply for annual leave.