Workplaces everywhere are placing more emphasis on employee wellness, and if not, they should be.
“No organization can expect to foster a positive culture without healthy employees. Employees need to feel their best – physically, mentally and emotionally – in order to contribute to a positive culture.” – Forbes
Employee wellness is essential to the success of any company! So, to make sure your employees are at their best, here are 4 neglected wellness categories that might be impacting your bottom line.
Not Getting Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep and poor sleep quality are the leading causes of employee burnout. Poor sleep habits can impact both your physical health and your emotional health pretty severely.
“Don’t get enough sleep, and your productivity suffers. You’ll have less energy and react slower. You’ll feel less creative and focused, and have difficulty making decisions and solving problems.” – Matterapp.com
It’s no longer considered a badge of honor to be able to get by on only two hours of rest. Brag about that and pretty soon you’ll be eating your words when your work and your health suffer for it. We now know it’s more sleep, not less, that leads to success in business and in life!
Poor Mental Health
Employee mental health is, perhaps, the most overlooked wellness category in recent years, yet it’s one of the most important factors in employee wellness.
Since poor mental health can be difficult to detect, it can be hard for employers to get ahead of any issues. So what can you do?
For starters, hire HR professionals.
“While tackling mental health can be challenging, employers and HR professionals are in a powerful position to help change attitudes and offer a support system.” – Forbes
Other ways employers can contribute to employee wellness when it comes to mental health are:
- Encourage conversations about what good mental health looks like
- Increase awareness and reduce the stigma in the workplace
- Do regular mental health check-ins with employees
- Provide training on proper mental health practices
- Lead by example!
Employers that put the psychological and emotional health of their employees first create a positive space where work and overall wellness can thrive. In the end, those are the most successful companies, especially in the long term.
Poor Physical Health
Businesses lose millions of dollars every year due to the poor physical health of their employees. This is a very unfortunate fact, but it’s true.
“…poor health costs the U.S. economy $576 billion a year, according to new research. Of that amount, 39 percent, or $227 billion is from “lost productivity” from employee absenteeism due to illness or what researchers called “presenteeism,” when employees report to work but illness keeps them from performing at their best.” – Forbes
Poor posture, repetitive strain, seasonal flu, and other minor and major workplace ailments are just a few of the reasons why employees might not be as productive as you’d like. It’s important to place an emphasis on good physical health in order to encourage a strong, productive workforce. It’s also your job to set a good example of this! Pay attention to your own health, talk about it, and be a good influence on your employees!
Poor Interpersonal Relationships
There are very few things more stressful in any workplace than having poor interpersonal relationships. Many employers would rather fire a high-performing but toxic employee, rather than have them impact the productivity of the entire team because you’re exactly that–a team!
“As it turns out, avoiding toxic workers is still better for the organization in terms of net profitability, despite losing out on a highly productive employee. Avoiding a toxic employee… enhances performance to a much greater extent than replacing an average employee with a rock star.” – Talent Management & HR
Employees spend upwards of 7 to 8 hours a day, every day, with their colleagues, so it stands to reason that people who like their peers and are good at collaboration also have more overall job satisfaction. No one works well with toxic people. Employers should encourage team-building exercises and coworker support in order to foster better interpersonal relationships among their staff. The stronger the team, the stronger the company as a whole!
“In many ways, employee wellness is a foundation for a positive corporate culture. Leaders should ensure employees have the resources, tools and on-site healthcare opportunities they need to live their healthiest life – inside and outside of the office.” – Forbes
A focus on wellness is important to keep your company growing and thriving. It ensures your team is happy, healthy, and consistent. When you put health first, everyone stands a better chance of showing up and putting their best foot forward!
How do you contribute to your employees’ wellness? Let us know in the comments below!
If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2019 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
