Drive your organization in a "Jaguar XJ" and park on Clover through employee well-being.

 

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If asked to choose one of the above two cars for your commuting and use, which one would you choose between number 1 or number 2? Definitely number 1 is said. Why do you say that? It is because of its comfort, convenience, appearance and special features.

Employee welfare as an organization should be considered in the same way as the above example. Different avenues have opened up with globalization. Employees flock to companies with the most amenities.

What is Employee Wellbeing?

“Wellbeing should be at the core of our thinking about work and the work place for the future.”

- Cary cooper

Defined as employee well-being, employee happiness, employee engagement, employee experience, employee satisfaction...etc.

Organizations need to understand that employee well-being involves much more than just physical health. Above all, employee well-being is about understanding your employees from a holistic perspective that can only be achieved in employee-centric organizations (Martic, 2023).

One can argue through HR Philosophy that becoming an employee-centric company and putting your people first may not be easy and it is a cost increase. But such an approach is no longer worth it. It is truly a long-term investment during this period. Will definitely be a must. Because now the competition between competing organizations has heated up. (Erin. L. et al, 2021)

When employees in an organization are in a state of well-being, they are able to develop their abilities, be productive and creative, build positive relationships with others, cope better with stress and make meaningful contributions. (Martic,  2023)

According to Prowell, the world-renowned method of assessing employee well-being, there are 7 main components of employee well-being in the workplace, which fall into 3 domains:

·       Physical, Mentel, Social

1. Health

Physical Health - Health screenings, wellness benefits, health insurance coverage, disability management, occupational health assistance, employee assistance programs.

Mental health – stress management, conflict resolution training, training line managers to have difficult conversations, risk assessments.

2. Good job

Work Environment - Ergonomically designed work areas, open and inclusive culture.

Good management – effective personnel management policies, training for line managers, sickness absence management.

Job demands - job roles, job quality, workload, working time, job satisfaction, work-life balance.

3. Values/Principles

Leadership – values-based leadership, clear mission and goals, building trust with employees.

Ethical norms - dignity at work, corporate social responsibility.

Diversity - diversity and inclusion, appreciation of difference, cultural engagement.

4. Collective/social

Employee voice – communication, involvement in decision making.

Positive relationships - management style, teamwork, respect.

5. Personal growth

Professional development - performance management, mentoring, succession planning.

Emotional – positive relationships, personal resilience training, financial well-being.

Creativity - open and collaborative culture, innovation workshops.

6. Choosing a good lifestyle

Physical activity - walking/running clubs, lunch yoga, charity trips.

Healthy Eating - Recipe Clubs, etc.

7. Financial well-being

Fair pay and benefits policies – higher rates than the statutory national minimum wage, flexible benefits scheme.

Retirement Planning - Pre-retirement courses for people nearing retirement.

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Ø How Employee can improve well-being

When it comes to your well-being, small actions can make a big difference. The University of Manchester's Six Ways to Wellbeing will help you make positive changes to feel good and live well.

It's important to find a mix of things that inspire you that fit your lifestyle but are fresh and varied (Kogan, 2023)

01.Connect

Being close to others and appreciating them will make us live a happier life. It ensures your wellbeing.

02.Take a Notice (Mindfulness meditation)

Mindfulness meditation is about taking time to be in the moment, without judging ourselves. It is an effective way to manage stress and improve your concentration and general health. Benefits of mindfulness meditation can include a greater sense of calm and relaxation.

03.Give Kindness

We all have the capacity to be kind. Kindness has been shown to have long lasting benefits both for the giver and the receiver. Helping, giving, sharing – doing something for someone else has been proven to make us feel more positive and increase our self-worth.

04.Be Active

Being active means engaging in any physical activity or movement that suits you, your ability, your other commitments and makes you happy. It helps us think and feel more positively, sleep better, and have more energy, which improves our physical and mental well-being.

05.Safe health behaviors

Safe health behaviors can help both our physical health and mental well-being. Examples might include behaviors such as physical activity and a balanced diet. Creating a balance of healthy behaviors is important to help maintain our well-being.

06.Learn & Discover

The very act of learning has been shown to improve our self-esteem. It can face any problem without fear. It brings out the true talent within us. It is a great help to our wellbeing (6 Ways to Wellbeing, 2023)

 

Why is employee well-being important?

Remember that employees are your biggest asset, so ensure well-being initiatives center around your people and their needs.

·        Improved group focus

·        Stress reduction

·        Increased job satisfaction

·        Positivity among employees

·        Improving general well-being

 

With the average full-time employee working around 37 hours per week, our work lives have a huge impact on our general happiness. Employees should create an environment that gives them their well-being. Companies without a comprehensive workplace wellness plan risk having low productivity and an unhappy workforce, which can be caused by physical and mental health issues or employees not being motivated or engaged with the company. Nearly 40% of employees do not tell their manager the real reason for their absence when they are sick because they are afraid of being judged or mistrusted. It's important to communicate to your employees that their well-being is a priority, and give them time off when needed so they can properly recover (Westfield Health, 2021).

Thus, if there is no trust in the employee and the management, it will limit the sustainable development of the organization. It can have a very bad effect as well as stigma. LTO will be very high. Therefore, management should pay more attention to the work of its employees and ensure their well-being.

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References:

(1). Clip 1: https://youtu.be/6HnoCD_0PI0 Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(2). Employee engagement. (2023). Employee Wellbeing: A Beginners Guide. Oak Engage. [Online]. Available at: https://www.oak.com/blog/employee-wellbeing/. Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(3). Erin. L., Berkman. L. F., Kubzansky. L. D., Lovejoy. (2021). 7 Strategies to Improve Your Employees’ Health and Well-Being. Harvard Business Review. [Online].  Available at: https://hbr.org/2021/10/7-strategies-to-improve-your-employees-health-and-well-being. Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(4).Fig(1).https://themanufacturer-cdn-1.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/14114154/Depositphotos_140118168_l-2015-1024x713.jpg Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(5).Fig(2).https://imgcdn.zigwheels.ae/large/gallery/exterior/17/686/jaguar-xj-side-view-275094.jpg Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(6).Fig(3).https://imgcdn.zigwheels.ae/large/gallery/interior/17/686/jaguar-xj-headlamp-beam-switches-106418.jpg Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(7).Fig(4).https://www.cartoq.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/m800-featured.jpg Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(8).Fig(5). https://hr.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium_square/public/2022-09/wellbeing-model.png?h=9d1a1bb6&itok=mdbGpSSU Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(9).I WANT TO LEARN. (2023). 6 Ways to Wellbeing. West Kent Mind. [Online]. Available at: https://westkentmind.org.uk/i-want-to-learn/info-resources/6-ways-to-wellbeing/. Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(10). Kogan. N. (2023). 6 Science-Backed Ways to Improve Your Well-Being at Work. Harvard Business Review. [Online]. Available at: https://hbr.org/2023/07/6-science-backed-ways-to-improve-your-well-being-at-work. Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(11).Martic. K. (2023). What Is Employee Wellbeing and How to Launch a Wellbeing Program. Haiilo. [Online] Available at: https://haiilo.com/blog/employee-wellbeing-definition-importance-best-practice/. Accessed on 16^th August 2023.

(11).Westfield Health. (2021). Why employee wellbeing is important. Westfield Health. [Online]. Available at: https://www.westfieldhealth.com/blog/why-employee-wellbeing-is-important Accessed on 16^th August 2023.