4 pillars of employee wellbeing
It’s undeniable that the pandemic has brought employee wellbeing to the forefront of the business world and has increased awareness around mental health as a whole. However, there is still a need for organisations to step up their efforts when it comes to mental health in the workplace and go beyond simply offering mental health days, coffee and fresh fruit in the office and access to apps that help manage stress and anxiety.
Promoting and supporting wellbeing in the workplace is critical, not only for team members but also for organisations' bottom line. According to the Mental Health Organisation, addressing psychological and physical health at work can increase productivity by 12% and many studies have shown that it prevents stress, reduces sickness absence and increases efficiency and overall performance.
Nurturing personal wellbeing and mental health and investing in it as an employer means you’re aiming for longevity, as well as a more sustainable approach to scaling a business and supporting individuals’ growth.
Creating a positive working environment where employees feel valued, respected and listened to has always been at the heart of Growth HQ. We recognise that any business is only as good as its people and that’s why we aim to offer a space where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.
These are the 4 pillars we believe should be present in every organisation in order to create a healthy workplace:
1. Open and transparent communication
Having two-way communication and fostering a culture where employees can talk openly about their struggles, blockers and what they find difficult is paramount to a successful business.
Both Inez and Firuj, co-founders of Growth HQ, are massive advocates of talking about mental health openly and believe that being open with regards to your mental and physical wellbeing in the office can only be positive for both the company and its staff.
Teams must also feel free to speak up and share their ideas with their colleagues and managers. This goes hand in hand with making work a safe place for mistakes. Creating an environment that enables team members to experiment on new and better ways of doing things is the only way they will learn and grow.
An open communication style also means you are providing direction and focus to your employees. Establishing a clear set of goals and objectives to work towards, builds an environment of ownership and accountability which helps staff reach their targets and goals.
2. Supporting and promoting wellbeing
Another fundamental element of a healthy working environment is providing employees access to support for both internal and external issues and encouraging them to use these support pillars when needed.
According to Mind, "60% of employees would be more motivated and likely to recommend their organisation as a good place to work if their employer took action to support mental wellbeing".
Ensuring all levels of team members feel supported by the wider team when they need to take time to unwind or distress, both during and out of working hours, is an important aspect that we always try to take care of at Growth HQ.
3. Learning and development
In order to optimise employees’ mental wellbeing, providing access to coaching and support on a professional and personal level is vital.
A positive culture that invests in their workforce, giving staff development opportunities and focusing on their growth not only improves retention rates but also allows employees to acquire the knowledge and learn the skills needed to excel in their position.
An empowered learning and development programme that focuses on people’s growth, builds trust and integrity and helps to maintain commitment and productivity levels.
4. Leading by example
Upper management needs to lead by example and this means having leaders that walk the talk and do what they say, when they say it.
Employees look up to their leaders for guidance and pay attention to their actions. Adopting this leadership style not only increases levels of engagement and boosts employee morale but it also builds trust and respect and ultimately fosters a positive work culture.
Both Inez and Firuj, try to send the message that talking about mental health is okay and believe that sharing their own struggles and what helps them overcome them with the wider team, is likely to help others do so too.
All these pillars are woven into the culture and values at Growth HQ, and it’s something we try to encourage and implement every day. Mental and physical health shouldn’t be a taboo, it’s the core of who we all are as people and without that, we might all just be another number.
