We live in a fast-paced corporate world, where demands are higher, pressure is ‘werser’ and everything around us like social media and poor dieting is determined to undermine health. A balance between physical and mental well-being is crucial in times like this. As employees spend increasingly longer hours at work, it is essential to adopt habits and strategies to ensure that their physical and mental well-being are protected. Whether it is developing a new hobby or switching jobs, take intentional steps to protect yourself and your employees.
“Each year, the global economy experiences losses that cost about $1 trillion because of anxiety, stress, and depression at work.”
-The World Health Organization
There are multiple benefits of good physical and mental health for workers. Increased productivity and performance are a no-brainer. Employees who are physically and mentally healthy are more likely to be productive at work. They stay motivated and by extension are creative and innovative in their capacities. Employees who are in optimal health conditions take fewer sick leaves and perform well.
Moreso, employees with stable mental health tend to build stronger relationships with co-workers and supervisors. They do not feel threatened, they are confident in their work and are willing to take constructive criticism. These employees are supportive and cooperative and are generally less likely to be involved in conflict.
Reduced stress is a critical benefit, not just for the employees but for the employer too. In a work environment where employees are confident in their work, not afraid to make mistakes and passionate about achieving the overall organisational goal, there is little chance for unnecessary stress. They are less likely to experience anxiety and depression (stemming from work-related issues) and are more likely to bounce back from setbacks.
All these factors ultimately lead to a happier work environment and happy employees. Employees who are physically and mentally healthy are more likely to feel satisfied with their jobs and the rate of burnout is significantly reduced.
The responsibility of protecting the well-being of individuals in the workplace is the responsibility of the employee. Nobody can take better care of you than yourself. It is also the responsibility of the employer. As we like to say at Norrenberger, the people are our competitive advantage – and they are. Let us take a look at how both parties can be intentional about protecting the general well-being of individuals in the workplace.
How Employees Can Protect Their Well-being
There are many great things that employees can do to protect their physical and mental health including:
Eating a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet is essential for good physical and mental health. It provides the body with the nutrients it needs to function properly and can help reduce stress and anxiety. A healthy diet means not skipping lunch hour, knowing that you already miss breakfast and dinner. It does not consist of the several questionable junk foods you keep in your snack drawer. So, consider religiously taking your lunch break and replacing those snacks with fruits and protein bars with the occasional slice of cake and whatnot.
Exercising regularly: Even though this is often skipped, exercise is an important part of maintaining physical and mental health. It helps improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, and boost mood. The ‘9-5ers’ that double as gym rats can vouch for this point. So, whether it’s a 30-minute yoga session before work or a casual stroll in the evening, dedicate some time to regular exercises and thank us later by investing in a series of diversified portfolios.
Getting enough sleep: When you don’t get enough sleep, you are more likely to experience fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating. The recommended duration is 7-8 hours of sleep. While it might not be entirely feasible for everyone, especially people that have multiple jobs and hobbies, we recommend you get as close to that as possible. Skip the extra hour on Instagram and focus on getting more sleep.
Managing stress: Stress is a normal part of life – we all get stressed every now and then. But too much stress can have a negative impact on your well-being. There are many things, however, you can do to manage your stress levels. Remember the point about exercising? You can also spend time with your loved ones and get a hobby.
Seeking professional help: If you are struggling with physical or mental health issues, whether it’s work-induced or not, we recommend you seek professional help. A therapist can help you identify and address the underlying causes of your problems, and they can teach you coping skills to manage stress and anxiety.
How Employers Can Support the Well-being of Their Employees
Employers have a responsibility to support the physical and mental health of their workers. Some of the things that employers can do include:
Providing health insurance: Health insurance can help employees to afford the care they need to stay healthy. It is important to include this in the employee benefits package. It shows that the company is intentional about the well-being of its employees.
Offering wellness programs: Wellness programs can help employees to learn about healthy habits and make changes to their lifestyles. At Norrenberger, we periodically offer wellness activities such as sports days and medical check-ups. Consider adopting these methods in caring for your employees’ general health.
Providing flexible work arrangements: Following the pandemic era, the direction of work environments has become considerably more flexible. Many companies are opting for more remote and hybrid working situations to ensure work-life balance and optimal productivity. Flexible work arrangements can help employees to balance their work and personal lives, which can reduce stress and improve health.
Creating a supportive work environment: A supportive work environment is one where employees feel valued and respected. There are various methods to this including speaking opportunities, getting employees’ inputs in company decisions, and conducting a mentorship program. This can help to reduce stress and improve mental health.
Providing mental health resources: Employers can provide mental health resources to employees, such as employee assistance programs and counselling services. This can be outsourced or championed by the human resource department consisting of qualified professionals.
The physical and mental well-being of employees is not one that can or should be ignored. By taking steps to protect the physical and mental health of their workers, employers can create a more productive and engaged workforce. Employees as well, can have more fulfilling careers when their physical and mental well-being is secured.
