Mental wellbeing is a growing concern for employers. In fact, according to the 2019 Great Place to Work Employee Outlook Survey, it’s the leading concern of employees in 2020 and 2022. This is due in large part to mental health’s impact on employee engagement and productivity. According to Gallup, engaged employees are more than twice as likely as disengaged employees (those who give low ratings on their current jobs) to have good physical health over time. Additionally, companies with high levels of employee engagement have higher levels of profitability and customer satisfaction — both key drivers of success for businesses today. In terms of retaining and attracting talent, organizations that prioritize employee happiness see measurable benefits: they report higher retention rates than other businesses do*and are more likely than their peers in other industries — or even sectors within their own industry — to attract top talent looking for new opportunities.
The Wellbeing Space
A wellness space is a place where employees can go to relax, and it can be used for a variety of different purposes. It’s important that your company has a wellness space because it’s one of the best ways to improve overall employee health and productivity, which will lead to higher profits for your business. The first step in creating a wellness space is deciding what purpose it will serve. Many companies choose to create outdoor spaces where employees can enjoy nature while also getting some fresh air and exercise; others prefer indoor spaces with comfortable furniture and soothing lighting. Another option is creating designated rooms in buildings that already have offices or break rooms (such as cafeterias). Once you’ve decided on the type of room you want, consider accessibility requirements such as wheelchair access. This will make sure everyone who works at your company has access to this important resource no matter how they get around!
Managerial Support and Responsibility
Managers are responsible for the wellbeing of their employees, and should provide support and resources to help them flourish. Managers should also be aware of the wellbeing of their employees, so that they can intervene when needed.
HR Departments’ More Strategic Focus
As HR departments become more strategic, they will also be more involved in business decisions. The role of the HR professional is evolving from playing a support role to becoming an integral part of the company’s success. In 2022, it is expected that HR departments will have a stronger focus on financial decisions and operational decisions that directly impact the bottom line. Additionally, there will be greater emphasis on hiring candidates who are well-suited for specific roles within the organization instead of simply finding warm bodies to fill them. This shift gives rise to new challenges as well as new opportunities for human resources professionals who function at all levels within organizations (e.g., VP/Director level through middle management). It is critical that they begin developing these new skills now so they are prepared when their roles evolve accordingly.
New Technologies
A key factor in employee wellbeing is the use of technology. The growing adoption of new technologies such as voice assistants, artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented reality (AR) can help improve wellbeing by reducing stress and improving engagement. For example, AI can be used to automate repetitive tasks such as scheduling meetings or answering emails so that employees are freed up to focus on other aspects of their jobs. It can also be used to monitor staff wellbeing by detecting signs of depression or stress based on patterns in behavior like keyboard strokes or mouse movements. A recent study found that workers who came into contact with an automated assistant for half an hour every day experienced significantly lower levels of stress than those who didn’t receive any support from AI systems.
Skill Training & Leadership Development
A strong leadership team is essential to a successful business. Leaders are tasked with ensuring that the goals of the company are met, and they must ensure every employee understands their role in achieving those goals. If your leadership team is not sufficiently trained, you may have difficulty retaining good employees or hiring new ones. Therefore, it’s important for companies to invest in leadership development programs that help train leaders and assist them in leading their teams more effectively by learning such skills as:
- Communication skills
- Time management skills
- Conflict resolution
In 2022, it will be clear that the above-mentioned employee wellbeing trends will make a positive impact on enhancing employee engagement and productivity. Employees are more engaged when they are happy, which is why happiness research has become increasingly popular over the past several years. There is also evidence linking happiness to productivity across industries. And when employees have good mental health, physical health, and financial health — which can all be impacted by certain workplace factors like culture or work hours — the results are usually higher levels of engagement and productivity too.
