Creating a culture of well-being is about creating an environment that supports employees’ emotional, mental, and physical health. Such an environment shows the business cares and can lead to employees more easily seeing and following the direction in which the company is heading. It also makes for happier and more productive employees who feel seen and cared for. So, how can you create such a culture in your business?
Be Transparent and Communicative
Leaders and everyone in a managerial position should demonstrate their commitment to creating such a culture. They should create, outline, and communicate a vision for such a workplace and tell employees of specific initiatives they are taking in its creation. Doing both will show their dedication to creating a healthy work environment.
Leaders should also regularly check in with their employees. They should do this as they are creating the wellness culture and afterwards to see its effect on employee well-being. It is also a good idea to ask employees how they are doing. Leaders should encourage open communication because it can make it easier for employees to talk about any challenges they may be experiencing.
Lead By Example
A business with a culture of well-being is also one where the employees take care of the physical, emotional, and mental health of others. Business owners can encourage their employees to do this by leading by example.
A typical way is enforcing a life-work balance. Burnout is a serious issue in many businesses today, and business owners who encourage their workers to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives to protect them from it are deemed more caring. Workers are also more likely to want to work with them and to stay with the business.
Business leaders can also show they care by ensuring the workplace is safe for every employee. Doing this entails doing regular risk assessments to catch hazards and eliminate time before they cause injuries.
They can do this with the help of different tools, with the ones they choose tailored to their specific industry. Those who work in manufacturing where employees can come into contact with hazardous material, for example, can use a COSHH Assessments template to ensure worker safety and meet compliance requirements.
Provide a Supportive Work Environment
Business leaders should also create a supportive environment that eliminates many issues that undermine employee well-being. In addition to enforcing a healthy work-life balance, they should have generous leave policies and discourage employees from working overtime if they do not have to. If they do, businesses should support them by giving them enough time off to recover from the long hours.
Doing the above will allow employees to take time off to handle and manage personal commitments and avoid burnout. It can also improve their productivity because they will always come to work relaxed since they will regularly take enough time off to recharge.
Employees remain one of the most important resources businesses have. As such, managers should ensure their emotional, physical and mental health by creating a culture of well-being and a work environment that supports all three aspects of their personhood. Businesses should also actively empower and encourage their employees to prioritise their well-being, which can benefit them and the business.
