Following on from the post yesterday, here is another tip on getting your wellbeing initiative to really take off even in the midst of this downturn. Today's theme is about how to get your message across to employees and managers so they see it for what it is - a genuine attempt by the organisation to help staff feel better and healthier and more ready to take on any of the issues that will get thrown their way in the coming months.
How do you ensure the wellbeing message is received positively?
Be strategic with your wellbeing programme!
You need to know why you’re doing it and communicate the right information to your staff. If you’re making the effort to create a positive and energetic culture within your organisation, tell everyone concerned. If you’re doing it to ease the increased stress and burden staff may be feeling – tell them. Employees always feel more invested in a programme if they have been consulted and informed from Day One.
They probably wouldn't thank you for arranging a team bonding exercise orienteering up a mountain if that's not their idea of fun but they may appreciate the chance to have relaxation sessions at lunchtime and a running / walking club to help them get fit and de-stress. The more you focus on what THEY would like, the more likely the programme will be well received.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Make Office Wellbeing succeed during the recession Part 2
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Can you see when your employees are stressed?
So what are you going to do about it? Business large and small are feeling tense at the moment and some are rising to the challenge whilst others have descended into tension filled spaces. Can you spot if your employees are stressed?
Here are some signs to look out for.
1. Increased gossiping - office gossip is a way of life in most organizations but the level I'm talking about here is much higher. Lots of whispering behind closed doors and furtive looks. This is likely because of job insecurity with the current climate but whatever the reason, its destructive if it continues and can add to the tension.
Solution - be more open with employees about what's happening and keep them as much in the loop as you can so you reduce the amount of speculation. Initiate a group outing - even if it's just a quick get together after work or a lunch.
2. Tension in the air - you can feel it when you walk into certain workplaces and it's almost tangible. When people feel insecure and unhappy, the atmosphere is pretty toxic for everyone else. The problem is when clients pick up on the low morale, it can only reflect badly on your company.
Solution - Talk to your employees or get a manager to keep talking to them so they feel valued and appreciated. Morale can be raised easily with a little recognition.
3. Lack of productivity - is productivity down? Are your employees a little unfocused? Lost their drive?
Solution - Kick start the competitiveness amongst your teams again with some 'friendly' sports and games. Confronting competitiveness directly can seem a little intimidating and sports is the perfect way to get people to unleash it without feeling so self conscious. Get your teams working as teams again.
4. Absenteeism up - or performance down. When employees get sick, it can have a real knock on effect to their work schedules but when they feel guilty about being off sick, it can sometimes be just as disruptive if they are not well enough to be in the office and are under performing. Keep your office a healthy, motivated place.
Solution - organize yoga classes after hours or in lunch times which help to relax, de-stress and refresh your employees. these can be easy and cheap to set up and with discounted rates for your teams, they'll feel valued and invigorated.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Too busy for a sick day?
Gone are the days of high absenteeism going unchecked. Companies are now clamping down so much on days off sick that a new survey has revealed that three quarters of employees still turn up for work when they could legitimately have stayed home sick.
The main causes of this are fears of letting colleagues deal with the workload, too much work piling up on your desk if you're not there and the fear of getting a bad record at work for absenteeism. Either way, sick people in offices ....where will this lead?
The report claims that the majority of us, some 71% still go into the office when we are unwell. The research also revealed that:People working in marketing, advertising and PR were most likely to go into work if they were feeling unwell, whereas those in the charity sector and graduate trainees were least likely to soldier on. Women were more likely than men to go into the office if they were ill.
What this tells me is that the amount you are paid could be linked to your sense of obligation to the job (charity work and graduate trainees are not normally high earners), money can buy a sense of loyalty and that women appear to be more wary of being judged so ignore their poor health.
Either way, it is very frustrating to be sitting next to a clearly unwell person in the office who is kindly sharing their germs with you but perhaps now you can see why they're there.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Healthy Staff = Healthy Bottom Line
It seems obvious to point out that the more healthy your staff, the less time they spend off sick and the more profitable your company is running with all hands on deck.
Unhealthy staff means absenteeism figures are higher than you would like, motivation is low, the remaining employees inherit all the workload and no one is happy or productive. Many large and small companies are realising that you get out of staff what you put in and as this is an issue close to my heart, I've just written an article about this for
HR Zone. The ways to get your workforce feeling loved and healthy by you is so straight forwards and this is one of those areas in life where a small gesture can go a long way. Have a look at the tips and see if you couldn't implement one of them this month.
The article is worth reading - but I would say that wouldn't I! But seriously, there are many different ways to injecting a bit of health and fitness into your staff and they all work. So what's stopping you trying one out today?
Did I miss any corporate health and fitness ideas out? Let me know.
Photograph by blue_gazelle
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
How Fit is Your Office?
Look around your office right now. How do your colleagues look? Fit, toned, energized, 'match ready'? And what about you? You feeling fit and healthy at the moment and on top of your game?
Chances are that the answer to these questions is no. But it's not a gym so what does it matter what shape your office in.?
Well, that's where you're wrong.
Businesses lose billions each year because of poor health amongst their employees either because of rising absenteeism or because of the increased cost of providing health care. In short, the less healthy your employees, the more likely they are to away from the office (costing businesses money). But people get sick sometimes, that can't be helped. What can be helped is making changes in offices to help people deal with stress and other ailments that lead to absenteeism and bring those numbers right down. Not wishing to simplify this complex issue too much, small changes can make a huge impact to businesses if employers engaged a little more with their staff.
Try these suggestions out on your employees:
1.Introduce sporting events that are inclusive and not just 'all about the boys'. Think beyond soccer tournaments and get mixed teams together. This really brings out the healthy competitive spirit amongst staff, promotes loyalty to the company and energises the workforce. Try buying a company Wii Fit and start a tournament and see how quickly people get into the spirit.
2. Supplying a daily fruit bowl in the office - small thing but it sends out the message that your employees health is your concern and you want them to eat well and be well and you're paying for it.
3. Reconsider some of your current employee benefits and perhaps shift the budget into more useful areas. Subsidised on-site back massage; personal training sessions for groups; installing a bike rack and showers to encourage staff to get out of their cars.
4. When working with our clients, we always try to do one-to-one consultations to get to the root of what each employees life is like beyond the office. Then we can suggest quick fitness and relaxation tips that fit around their busy lives rather than dump them with an unrealistic plan that will never work in the long term. Listening to employees is key to making the changes stick.
5. Offer yoga or relaxation classes - these have a HUGE effect on eliminating staff stress and sends the message that you take some of the responsibility of helping your staff unwind after work.
6. Be authentic. Gimmicks always sounds like gimmicks and employees see right through them. The company should embrace and support healthy changes they introduce and managers should drive these forward. Be flexible with employees so they can take part in the schemes you set up. Perhaps reward a day off for winners of a tournament.
These changes may not sounds revolutionary but they will have a positive effect on staff attitudes, attendance and productivity. Your company is only as fit as your workforce after all.
Photograph by Joe Hoover (Flickr)
