Well-being Washing Unveiled: Why It's a Hot Topic Today
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What you need to know?
Would you sacrifice your work-life balance for an extremely well-paying job? While 93% of employees consider well-being to be as important as salary, recent research has found that 90% of employees don't believe their employer when they talk about well-being initiatives.
Examples include a company-wide meeting about the importance of lunch breaks or performative company posts on social media. The same research also found that a fifth of FTSE 100 companies only report on mental health on awareness days (such as World Mental Health Day) and make no reference to it the rest of the year.
What others say about it?
"One of the biggest problems we've found is that employers don't really know how their employees are feeling or what they need. Questions, not just assumptions, are always the first step in developing a workplace well-being strategy "that actually works," says Bex Spiller, founder of The Anti-Burnout Club.
Your advice? "One of the most important points is that you give your employees the time to take part in the new well-being programs - and that doesn't mean the lunch break. Promote a culture of well-being in the company by giving your teams time to look after themselves take care.
She adds, "Think about how you can tailor your wellness offerings to as many people as possible, and don't just assume that everyone is a fan of meditation or yoga apps."
What this means for you?
There are a few key considerations you need to make to develop a wellness offering that your employees will truly enjoy and participate in:
Listen to what your employees really want - conduct surveys, enable constant collection of suggestions, and replace "perks" that aren't being used with new options.
Make sure your managers lead by example: set clear rules for availability outside of working hours and during vacation, and recognize when these rules are not followed and take action to remedy the situation.
As Bex suggests, you should set aside time for your employees to actually engage in wellness initiatives - participating in a company-organized wellness activity shouldn't mean they have to skip lunch or work late to make up for it.
In the realm of workplace well-being, sincerity and employee-centric approaches are paramount. IceHrm recognizes the need for authentic engagement, urging companies to listen to their employees, lead by example, and create meaningful wellness programs that resonate with diverse preferences. By fostering a culture of true well-being, IceHrm envisions workplaces where employee needs are not just acknowledged but proactively addressed.
