After a challenging 2020, it has never been more important for workplaces to proactively prioritise the health and wellbeing of their employees’, especially as we progress to more flexible working environments and levels of burnout increase, writes Simon Kearney, co-founder of Readiness, a complete digital wellbeing platform for workplaces.

It’s time for a holistic approach to workplace wellness

When we talk about wellbeing, we tend to only focus on mental health, but for employees to perform at their best, they workplaces should look more holistically and ensure there is the right balance of mind, body and sleep. Once you find that balance, there will be a clear improvement in daily performance in both work and life.

Research shows that businesses who put health and wellbeing front and centre have reduced absenteeism and increased staff retention. Employees have higher morale, increased productivity and are less likely to take sick days.

So how can businesses make sure they are doing everything they can to support their employees? It is as simple as incorporating the following tips.

Prioritise your workplace culture

Organisational leaders need to ensure they are prioritising workplace culture and building a positive and open environment. Look at how you can better provide a mentally healthy workplace – offer flexible working hours, monitor staff workloads and provide encouragement. Leaders should also think about whether they are contributing to an ‘always on’ culture in their businesses which doesn’t support people having time to switch off, like answering emails after hours, or working during holidays.

Ensure wellbeing benefits are accessible

With changing workplaces and a lean to more flexible working setups, employers need to ensure that any wellbeing benefits in your organisation are accessible to all employees, including those outside the physical office. This might mean that if you are offering lunchtime yoga or meditation sessions, people can participate via ZOOM if they are out of the office.

Be committed to early intervention

Encourage staff to seek help early before it becomes a major issue. By providing proactive wellbeing education to staff, you can help your employees feel comfortable discussing any issues they might be facing. Offering an employee wellness platform or tool, like Readiness, gives staff the education and resources they need to thrive in a workplace.

Make employee wellbeing a year-round commitment

It is important that we prioritise employee wellbeing all year round, not just during Mental Health Month October or on R U OK? Day. Employees need to know they have support whenever they might need it and understand that there is no taboo when it comes to speaking out.

Find out more about Readiness