If staff are not happy or are sick, they are not productive. Therefore, happy healthy workers are likely to be more productive.
New research by Investors in People has found over half (54%) of full-time employees (i.e., 14.07 million people) feel their employer doesn’t care about their health and wellbeing, as long as they get the job done.
Respondents who stated their employer doesn’t care about their health and wellbeing, half (48%) say it has led to them feeling less motivated, with a third stating they have considered looking for a new job as a result.
Businesses demonstrating that they care for their workers do not have to have expensive health and welling benefits packages, it’s the genuine intention that counts. A point shared by Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People.Caring gestures could simply include offering:
•Desk posture assessment
•Negotiating a package deal to a local gym
•Raising health awareness of good mobile phone usage practices (1)
•Raising awareness of benefits of healthy eating
•Revise the coffee breaks schedule so everyone on a team take a break at the same time (2)
•Organising a company wide five day juicing challenge (3)
•Organising a Cyclescheme (UK) to get employees a bike tax-free, saving on average about half the cost (4)
•Or simply, complementary fresh fruit in the workplace . . . an Apple a day?
References:
1) European Environment Agency - January 2013, Mobile Phones page 31 http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/late-lessons-2
2) Harvard Business Review The New Science of Building Great Teams – April 2012 http://hbr.org/2012/04/the-new-science-of-building-great-teams
3) Five Day Juicing Challenge http://www.juicemaster.com/5lbs-in-5-days
4) Cyclescheme UK http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/
Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said: “Organisations need to see staff health and wellbeing as crucial to their business and staff retention. Our research shows that happier staff are less likely to take time off sick. What’s more, companies offering health and wellbeing perks will see real business benefits. But they don’t have to be costly – desk posture assessment and support or complimentary fresh fruit in the office can have real positive impact on an employee’s health and make them feel valued. Investors in People is encouraging businesses to consider how they treat their staff to ensure they have the happiest and most productive workforce.”
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