June 23, 2023 | Blog
Prioritizing Employee Wellbeing in the Evolving Landscape of Remote and Hybrid Positions
By Zach Schmit, PN1-NC, NASM-CPT
In the rapidly evolving landscape of remote and hybrid positions, the emphasis of employee wellbeing has emerged as a critical factor for organizations. From agile, remote-friendly startups to international conglomerates, it has become increasingly evident that supporting employee wellbeing is absolutely essential for reducing turnover, attracting and retaining top talent, increasing engagement, and sustaining productivity.
The Significance of Wellbeing
A recent survey sheds light on just how important wellbeing is to employees. Alarmingly, the survey reveals that a whopping 48% of American employees express dissatisfaction with their wellbeing at work. Conversely, countries like Brazil are seeing 80% of respondents reporting positive workplace wellbeing. But why?
Upwards of 25% of employees in the United States feel that their employers do not prioritize employee wellbeing. Consequently, widespread discontentment is prevalent, with one in four Americans reporting unhappiness in their jobs and an inability to care for their wellbeing within the workplace.
The increasing dissatisfaction with workplace wellbeing potentially holds major ramifications for organizations. Remarkably, nearly 73% of respondents indicate that they would only consider joining companies that prioritize employee wellbeing. This underscores the significance of fostering a supportive and healthy workplace culture where employees feel valued, heard, and empowered with the necessary resources to address their overall wellbeing.
Enhancing Wellbeing in Every Work Environment
- In-Office/On-site: Supporting both mental and physical health within the office setting is paramount. Organizations can start by providing access to a variety of wellness resources during and outside of work hours, such as EAP counseling sessions, fitness programs, nutritional education, mental health workshops, opportunities for building meaningful social connections, and helping employees achieve a healthier work-life balance overall.
- Fully Remote: For remote workers, not having a physical workplace amongst your colleagues can lead to feelings of isolation or loneliness, and create some real challenges in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Some individuals struggle with “shutting it off” and when burnout potentially sets it, the struggle becomes “turning it on” again. Organizations can extend virtual wellness platforms, such as the Covenant Workplace Solutions EAP member portal, access to self-help mental health resources, and team-building opportunities are essential in making them feel connected and supporting their wellbeing.
- Hybrid: While potentially enjoying the best both worlds have to offer, individuals splitting their time between the office and home face a unique set of challenges that can impact wellbeing. Not having a clear line drawn between where work ends and personal life begins can result in rapid burnout, similar to fully remote scenarios. To address this, organizations should provide opportunities for discovering meaning in their work, consistently nurturing quality relationships with colleagues, and always emphasizing the prioritization of every individual’s physical and mental health, both during hours spent in the office and while working remote.
Empowering Employees with Wellness Opportunities
At Covenant Workplace Solutions, we view employee wellbeing as a core leadership value. A non-negotiable standard. Many leading organizations invest significantly in training its leaders to develop a thriving workplace culture by leading with a mental health mindset. The expectation is the pursuit of wellness within their teams. This includes preparing leaders with knowledge on how to read the room, empathize with team members, encourage taking quality and timely breaks, provide constructive feedback for growth, and consistently seeking opportunities for personal development.
Providing employees with the right tools to support and strengthen their mental and physical health is a crucial step. By offering a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program, organizations can enhance both employee wellbeing and overall company performance.
The bottom line is that prioritizing employee wellbeing is of paramount importance and should not be delayed, but your unique strategy on how to implement this will vary based on each organization’s work arrangements (i.e. cubicle city vs. manufacturing floor vs. multi-location, etc.). Again, the data is overwhelming in telling us that when organizations invest in their employee wellbeing, it will deliver a long list of benefits, including heightened productivity, reduced turnover, and increased engagement.