Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Introduction
Employee wellbeing has become more important than ever for organisations around the world. Studies show rising levels of work-related stress and burnout globally, with 85% of employees experiencing burnout symptoms like exhaustion, cynicism about work, and reduced productivity. This has significant impact not just on employee health and engagement, but also on a company’s bottom line through increased absenteeism, high turnover, and declining performance. Discover innovative staff wellbeing ideas for your workplace.
That’s why it’s critical for organisations today to make employee wellbeing a top priority. The ideas presented in this post will provide a guide for simple, impactful ways to support staff wellbeing in areas like mental health, work-life balance, professional growth, healthy habits and more. The aim is to give organisations actionable solutions to support a thriving workforce. When companies invest in holistic employee wellbeing across these key dimensions, they empower staff to do their best work sustainably over the long-term. The result is a win-win for employees and the organisation.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Work-Life Balance Tips
Achieving better work-life balance should be a priority for every organisation that cares about staff wellbeing. The most successful companies realise that employees who can live balanced lives outside of work are more engaged, motivated and creative at work. There are several ways managers can promote work-life balance on their teams:
Offer Flexible and Remote Working Options
Allowing flexible schedules and remote work gives employees more control over their time. Rather than adhering to strict 9-5 office hours, consider letting staff choose early or late start times that fit their personal schedules. Make remote work an option for suitable roles, even if just 1-2 days per week. Empower people to work when and where they can be most productive.
Avoid After-Hours Work Communications
It can be tempting for managers to send emails or messages outside normal business hours. But this leads to an “always on” mentality for employees. Set an example by avoiding work communications in the evenings, on weekends and during vacations. Allow people to disconnect outside their scheduled hours. Make it clear that timely responses aren’t expected until the next working day.
Encourage Use of their holiday time
Provide generous holiday time allowances and make sure employees take their allotted time off. Don’t let their holiday days roll over year after year unused. Set minimum targets for days taken, and remind your team they are encouraged to use their full allowance. Plan for coverage of key tasks when people are out of the office. Holidays should be guilt-free – they are essential for avoiding burnout.
Consider Summer Hours or Extended Weekends
During slower seasons, have the office close early on Fridays. Or try summer hours with an extended 4-day weekend once a month. This provides staff a nice break and incentive during less busy times of the year. Just be sure to communicate any special hours to customers so expectations are set appropriately. The extra downtime pays off in higher job satisfaction.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Health & Wellness Programs
Offering health and wellness programs is an impactful way to support employee wellbeing. This goes beyond just providing health insurance and focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles. Some ideas include:
- Gym memberships or onsite fitness classes: Many companies subsidise gym memberships to make it more affordable for employees to be physically active. Even better is bringing fitness onsite by holding exercise or yoga classes before/after work or during lunch. This makes it convenient to fit in exercise.
- Healthy office snacks/lunches: Providing healthy snacks like fruit, nuts and granola bars makes it easier for employees to make nutritious choices. Catered office lunches can also offer wholesome options beyond just pizza.
- Standing/walking meetings: Sitting for prolonged periods is unhealthy, so encourage movement by making some meetings walking meetings or providing standing desks. This builds physical activity into the workday.
- Ergonomic equipment: Invest in ergonomic chairs, desk accessories and proper office setups to reduce muscle strain and discomfort. This prevents long-term health issues caused by poor posture and repetitive motions.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Mental Health Support
A healthy work environment prioritises employees’ mental health and wellbeing. Offering mental health support demonstrates that a company cares about the whole employee, not just their productivity. There are several ways managers can promote mental health in the workplace:
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): EAPs provide free, confidential counselling and referral services for employees facing personal problems that may impact their work performance. Whether it’s stress, depression, substance abuse, or family issues, an EAP gives employees a safe space to get help. Companies can partner with external EAP providers or build an internal program.
- Meditation and Mindfulness: Providing meditation or mindfulness seminars is an inexpensive way to help employees manage stress and anxiety. Even a few minutes of deep breathing or guided meditation during the workday can center employees and improve focus. Consider starting team meetings with a mindfulness exercise or designating a quiet room for meditation.
- Confidential Mental Health Services: Employees may feel more comfortable seeking mental health treatment if they know it will remain private. Offer confidential therapy or counselling with licensed professionals, either in-office, through video chat, or an external provider. Respect employees’ privacy and ensure any mental health services remain strictly confidential.
Providing mental health support not only helps struggling employees, but boosts morale and loyalty across the company. Employees want to know their company cares about their complete wellbeing. A psychologically healthy environment leads to more engaged employees.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Professional Development
Professional development opportunities allow employees to grow their skills and progress their careers. Providing training, mentorship, and continuing education shows you’re invested in your staff for the long-term.
Training and Upskilling
- Conduct skills gap analyses to identify areas for development. Provide training to upskill employees in critical business and technical areas.
- Offer coaching and mentorship programs to help employees reach the next level. Match junior staff with more experienced mentors for guidance.
- Host regular lunch & learns, workshops, seminars and other learning opportunities. Bring in experts or use internal talent to lead sessions.
Continuing Education
- Provide tuition reimbursement or subsidies for external courses and education. Support professional certifications that are relevant to roles.
- Allow staff to attend conferences, workshops and other external events for development. Have a clear approval process and budget.
- Give employees time for self-directed learning and development during work hours. Support professional associations and memberships.
Promotion Paths
- Create clear promotion paths so staff can see options to progress their careers internally.
- Develop succession plans for key roles. Groom top talent and help them prepare for advancement.
- Be transparent about requirements for promotions. Offer training to help staff develop needed competencies.
- Post open roles internally first before going external. Give employees a chance to apply and move up.
Why Should you Invest in the Wellbeing of your Staff?
According to a State of Work-Life Wellness 2024 report (…), 93% of workers consider their wellbeing to be equally critical as their salary, up by 10 points year-over-year. Eighty-seven percent of employees would consider resigning from an organization that does not emphasize the wellbeing of its workers. For job seekers, 96% said they would only consider employment at companies that emphasize employee wellbeing.
Forbes: Wellbeing Is Just As Valuable To Workers As Their Pay
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Workplace Design
A thoughtfully designed workspace can have a big impact on employee wellbeing and morale. Consider the following elements when designing an office environment:
Natural Lighting, Plants, Artwork
Exposure to natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms and can lift moods. Strategically place workstations near windows or skylights to allow daylight in. If natural light is limited, install full-spectrum bulb lighting.
Bring nature indoors with potted plants and greenery. Plants have been shown to lower stress levels and increase creativity. Images of nature, whether in artwork, photographs, or screensavers, can have a similar effect.
Display interesting artwork to provide visual stimulation. Encourage employees to showcase personal artwork and rotate pieces periodically to keep things fresh.
Quiet Spaces for Recharging
Create designated quiet areas or relaxation rooms where employees can meditate, pray, nap, or simply recharge. Provide comfortable seating and calming amenities like white noise machines, essential oil diffusers, or calming lighting.
Comfortable, Ergonomic Furniture
Uncomfortable furniture takes a toll over time, leading to back, neck, and joint pain. Invest in ergonomic desks, chairs, monitor stands, and other equipment to support employees’ health. Encourage regular breaks for changing positions and doing light stretches.
Having a comfortable yet purposefully designed office environment shows employees their wellbeing is valued, while supporting productivity.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Team Building & Culture
A strong, positive workplace culture is key for supporting staff wellbeing and engagement. There are several ways organisations can foster team building and an inclusive culture:
Regular Staff Social Events
- Schedule monthly or quarterly staff social events like team lunches, or daytime activities to give employees a chance to interact and build relationships outside of day-to-day work. These events help break down organisational silos.
- Celebrate milestones and achievements with social events. This could include celebrating a successful project launch, company anniversary, or individuals’ work anniversaries.
- Consider allowing teams to use work time for team building activities several times per year. Activities could range from volunteering events, to escape rooms, sporting activities, meals, or trips.
Employee Recognition Programs
- Develop a peer-to-peer employee recognition program where staff can nominate colleagues for going above and beyond. Recognise these employees publicly or through rewards.
- Implement structures for managers to regularly recognise top performers on their teams through rewards, events, Wall of Fame, praise in meetings, etc.
- Celebrate work anniversaries and employee milestones relating to tenure. For example, recognise staff at yearly anniversaries or at milestones like 5, 10, 15 years of service.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
- Offer training on topics like unconscious bias, diversity awareness, and inclusive leadership. Ensure leaders model inclusive behaviors.
- Build Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that allow employees with shared identities, backgrounds or interests to connect. Examples may include groups for women, LGBTQ employees, working parents, etc.
- Make diversity and inclusion a regular discussion topic. For example, consider a speaker series on DEI topics or include DEI on the agenda at team meetings.
- Review HR policies and processes to ensure equitable access to opportunities, level recruiting playing field, and remove bias in performance reviews or promotions.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Workload Management
Ensuring manageable workloads for staff is crucial for maintaining high productivity while also preventing burnout. There are several strategies organisations can implement:
- Set Reasonable Deadlines – Project managers should work closely with team members when setting deadlines to ensure they are realistic and achievable. Build in buffer time to account for unexpected delays. Take team members’ existing responsibilities into account rather than overcommitting them.
- Track Time Off in Lieu – When staff have to work overtime for a period, implement a system to track this time accrued so they can take equivalent time off later. Make sure employees actually utilise this accrued time to avoid overwork.
- Review Resourcing/Capacity – Conduct periodic reviews of resourcing levels and team capacity. Monitor workloads and adjust hiring or staffing plans if teams seem chronically overburdened. Consider redistributing workloads if some employees are taking on a much heavier load.
Setting boundaries around manageable workloads demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to preventing burnout. Employees will be more engaged and productive when they can maintain a healthy work-life balance without constant overwork.
Healthy Habits
Encouraging employees to embrace healthy habits during the workday can significantly boost wellbeing. Simple changes like staying hydrated, taking walking meetings, and stretching regularly have been shown to reduce stress, increase energy levels, and improve concentration.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration is a common issue in office environments. The symptoms of mild dehydration include headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Ensure water, herbal tea, and other unsweetened beverages are always available. Consider providing reusable water bottles employees can take to meetings and refill as needed. Send out occasional email reminders to drink water and take breaks.
Take Regular Stretch Breaks
Sitting for prolonged periods can lead to back pain, eye strain, and circulatory issues. Taking short 1-2 minute stretch breaks every 30-60 minutes can alleviate muscle tension and stiffness. Share stretching routines appropriate for the office or have floor mats available for basic yoga poses.
Walking Meetings
Instead of sitting through yet another conference room meeting, suggest taking the discussion outside for a walking meeting when possible. Moving while talking helps stimulate creativity and collaboration. Even a short 10 minute walk around the office or block can get blood circulating for improved energy and focus.
Discourage Unhealthy Habits
While occasional treats are fine, avoid having junk food constantly available in the office kitchen. Make nutritious snacks like fresh fruit, nuts, and yogurt more readily accessible. Consider subsidising gym memberships or fitness classes to motivate employees to stay active. Lead by example by packing healthy lunches and avoiding excessive alcohol at work functions.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas – Conclusion
Staff wellbeing should be a top priority for any organisation that wants to retain talent and foster a positive culture. The ideas discussed in this article offer ways for leaders to show they value their people, not just as employees but as whole human beings with full lives outside of work.
By implementing thoughtful wellbeing initiatives around work-life balance, health and fitness, mental health support, professional growth, office design and team building, companies can make a real difference in quality of life for staff. Employees need to know their wellbeing is respected. This not only helps attract and keep talented people, but leads to higher engagement, satisfaction and creativity.
The time is now for organisations to take concrete steps toward a culture that cherishes rest, recuperation, resilience and holistic employee health. Start small if needed, pilot test new wellbeing policies and programs, and scale up based on feedback and results. Make wellbeing a regular agenda item for leadership meetings. Lead by example in prioritising self-care. The benefits will extend throughout the company and community.
Focusing on staff wellbeing is not just an HR concern, it’s a business growth strategy and social responsibility. When companies show they care about more than profits, they earn trust and loyalty. By making employee wellness central to the mission, organisations can fulfil their purpose, take care of their people, and drive success. The ideas are out there, the will to act must follow. It’s time to build a supportive, human-centred workplace for all.
Let us assist you with your staff Wellbeing
From First Aid for Mental Health courses to stress-busting office yoga, our bespoke solutions are designed to nurture both the physical and mental wellbeing of your team. Dive deeper into mindfulness with our meditation sessions, and get your team moving with our relaxing yoga sessions. Don’t just dream of a thriving workplace environment—make it a reality. Contact us today to explore how we can elevate your staff’s wellbeing journey.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for general knowledge and educational purposes only. It should not be construed as professional health, legal, or business advice. Readers should always consult with appropriate health professionals, human resource experts, or legal advisors for specific concerns related to mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of publication, Wellbeing In Your Office cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes, updates, or revisions of the aforementioned content.