Good employees are one of the key components of a successful business. By ensuring the wellbeing of your employees, you will be better able to retain good staff and attract a high calibre of applicants when positions do become vacant. Additionally, happy, healthy employees are likely to be more motivated and efficient, and so caring for their wellbeing truly is a win-win situation.
Health and safety
Helping employees remain in the best possible physical and mental health is one of the key factors in maintaining their well-being. Workplaces should have robust safety measures in place to prevent accidents, with an effective training program in place to ensure all employees meet the standards. If there are any dangers in the workplace, such as on a construction site, the appropriate PPE should be provided. In the event of an accident, there should be an appropriate response plan in place that includes first aid treatment.
Illnesses affect everyone from time to time. While no one wants regular absenteeism, expecting unwell people to come into work is likely to be counterproductive and can spread infections and viruses. An effective sick leave policy should allow unwell employees to be absent while they recover without feeing as if they are being punished.
Sometimes, personal issues can spill into the workplace, particularly if alcohol or substance abuse plays a part. Workplace drug and alcohol testing can identify those individuals before they cause danger to themselves or others and may enable them to get the support they need. Matrix Diagnostics is a company that can provide advice on workplace drug testing policies and supply the kits you need to set up a program. They can review your policies and help improve them as well as offer training to develop a screening program.
Stress
Workplaces are often high pressured, leading to high levels of stress. To avoid unhealthy stress levels and burn out among your employees, take steps to help mitigate the stress. These can include support workers and mentoring, regular breaks, effective management to spread the load and opportunities for employee feedback.
Workplace tension
Employees don’t need to be best friends, but they do need to work as a team. Resentment, ill feeling and tension can all too easily arise, making the workplace uncomfortable for everyone. To avoid this, make sure teams are well managed and have policies in place on how to deal with grievances so that they can be resolved without anyone feeling ill-treated.
Providing opportunities for socialising can help boost working relationships. From informal drinks on a Friday night to team building activities, these can be a great way for employees to get to know each other out of a working environment. However, when organising these gatherings, be aware that it is inevitable that some employees will get on better than others. Make sure these events remain inclusive and that no one is left out.
Look to yourself!
Caring for employee well-being will come from the top, so your own attitude to employees will play a big part in determining its success. Maintain a courteous, respectful manner to demonstrate the standards you expect, and do not dismiss employees’ concerns. And be ready to learn. Policies to enhance well-being should be regularly reviewed and developed to help them meet the best possible standards.