What is employee well-being?

When companies focus on employee well-being, they typically focus on their workers’ overall mental, physical, emotional, and economic health.

Employee well-being is also related to the company culture and the relationships employees have with management and co-workers, how much freedom employees have over their schedules, and how qualified they are for the job.

How can you improve your employee well-being?

Employers can improve employee well-being several ways:

• Train leadership- When companies take time to educate leadership on the importance of mental health and equality, it’s easier to get everyone on board. Trainings, inviting a mental health speaker or wellness expert to speak, or conducting open dialogues are great places to start.
• Promote a culture of openness- Check in with employees regularly to find out how they are doing. Managers can do this on both an individual and team level.
• Focus on two-way communication- When communication between managers and employees is clear, transparent, and effective, all employees feel heard and able to do their jobs more efficiently.
• Promote work-life balance- By encouraging all employees to take breaks, use their time off, avoid working weekends, take the full lunch break, and so on, employees may feel more committed and deliver better results.
• Help employees focus on their strengths- Employees want to feel fulfilled at work. Creating a strategy that allows employees to focus on their strengths will make them feel valued.

Why does employee well-being matter?

When employees are happy and healthy, they’re more motivated and perform better. Additionally, when employees feel supported and valued, company culture tends to be better, making employees feel more loyal to the business and committed to working towards the organization’s goals. Employee well-being also impacts the company’s reputation and their ability to retain and recruit talent.

What are the elements of well-being?

According to a Gallup study, there are 5 elements of well being that impact whether a person is thriving or struggling:

1. Career well-being: Individuals enjoy what they do on a daily basis
2. Social well-being: Individuals have meaningful friendships
3. Financial well-being: Individuals manage their money well
4. Physical well-being: Individuals have energy to get things done
5. Community well-being: Individuals like where they live

Employers who want to promote a high standard of employee well-being can focus on career well being and making the work environment as supportive, transparent, and empowering as possible.