Employee Wellbeing What Can We Do About It?

by | Mar 26, 2024 | Conversations

To me, good health is more than just exercise and diet. It’s really a point of view and a mental attitude you have about yourself” {and your organization} ~Albert Schweitzer

“Good health IS good business” – Paul Drechsler (CEO, Wates Group Limited)

When planning our next conversational series, we asked the community to weigh in on the topic they were most interested in. Wellbeing weighed in (pun intended) as top priority for our community. 

As we prepare for an upcoming expert panel discussion, we decided to kick it off with a few thoughts from the co-founders, Adrienne & Tom.

Time and compressed calendars did not permit us to come together live, so we answered separately and combined the responses on this week’s podcast.

Here is the set of questions Tom chose, and a few highlights of his response:

  1. How can we foster a sense of belonging and connection among our employees, especially in remote and hybrid work environments?
  • Tom emphasized the importance of recognizing individual differences in fostering connection among employees.
  • He highlighted the need for meaningful conversations, both in-person and digitally, to promote a sense of belonging.
  • Tom advocated for creating choices for mindfulness and self-care, acknowledging that well-being initiatives should cater to diverse preferences.
  1. How can we foster a culture of open communication and support where employees feel comfortable discussing their well-being concerns?
  • Tom stressed the significance of addressing concerns such as workload and job security through open communication and supportive systems.
  • He emphasized the role of managers in providing training and resources to support their teams, advocating for informal channels and personalized approaches.
  1. How can we create choices that promote mindfulness, resilience, and self-caring among our employees?
  • Tom discussed the importance of integrating digital and in-person experiences to promote mindfulness and resilience.
  • He highlighted the value of workplace flexibility in accommodating personal and family needs, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies and supportive workplace cultures.

Here is the set of questions Adrienne chose, and a few highlights of her response:

  1. Are there specific challenges or stressors impacting employee well-being that we, as employers and business leaders, need to address?
  • Adrienne delved into challenges such as workload and job security, emphasizing the importance of open communication and support systems.
  • She highlighted the significance of recognizing individual differences and providing resources to address diverse needs.
  1. What kind of training and resources can we provide managers to better support their team members with well-being and recognizing signs of burnout and distress?
  • Adrienne discussed the role of managers in providing training and resources to support their teams, advocating for informal channels and personalized approaches.
  • She emphasized the importance of understanding employees’ needs and aligning expectations with outcomes to enhance workplace flexibility effectively.
  1. Are there opportunities to enhance workplace flexibility, such as scheduling, to better support employees’ personal and family needs?
  • Adrienne encouraged organizations to align expectations with outcomes and foster a sense of purpose to enhance flexibility effectively.
  • She emphasized the value of accommodating personal and family needs, advocating for tailored strategies and supportive workplace cultures.

The conversation led by Adrienne and Tom underscored the dynamic and multifaceted nature of promoting employee well-being. They emphasized the importance of tailored strategies, open communication, and supportive workplace cultures in fostering a healthy and productive work environment. 

We hope you enjoy the video and are inspired to join the conversation.

Your voice makes a difference. 

Stay tuned for more insights on how to build resilience and cultivate a leadership beyond by promoting health and wellness throughout your organization.

Adrienne & Tom