Over the past few years, mental health has become the topic of conversation in HR. From Zoom fatigue, “doomscrolling” breaking news, burnout and lack of WFH boundaries, there are a host of emerging trends that negatively impact employee mental health. HR must be proactive and creative in how they invest in wellness initiatives
Employee experience feeds into nearly every facet of work culture and the customer experience. This blog will explore how HR pros can build a meaningful foundation for wellness and ensure employees feel confident and content, no matter the hurdle.
Lead with empathy
Work and personal life are often separated in professional settings, yet major personal events inevitably impact an employee’s wellbeing and should be addressed as compassionately as possible. Employees may be grieving the loss of a loved one, experiencing health issues or even carrying personal concerns they do not wish to divulge fully. Challenging life events can decrease your employees’ emotional outlook, engagement, productivity and energy in the workplace, even if the problem appears individualized.
How can HR offer support? HR leaders must approach these circumstances with empathy and kindness to better support employees. Adopting a balanced professional and personal mindset shows your employees their wellbeing matters. By making a continuous effort to create an understanding environment where employees feel confident in outlining their needs, such as flexibility or time-off, HR departments foster trust with their employees.
Creating a culture of care reinforces the bottom line for employee experience by increasing productivity and engagement. In turn, building a baseline for wellness intrinsically promotes innovation and connection in the organization.
Incorporate physical wellness
Mental and physical wellness go hand in hand — frequently, these two forms of wellness correlate. Physical fitness has actual mental health benefits, and it generates endorphins and dopamine — two chemicals that impact your overall mood, memory and brainpower.
Physical wellness is often overlooked during the workweek. Sitting at a desk all day without movement is not healthy. As the world becomes increasingly virtual, stepping away from work notifications can become challenging. To remediate unhealthy digital habits, encourage employees to take work breaks, walk around and keep active. For some, it might even look like scheduling reminders to get moving or work out after or before the workday.
To further elevate movement, consider scheduling physical team-building activities such as yoga or rock climbing. Supporting physical activity will encourage employees to break unhealthy routines and stimulate new ones.
Prioritize learning and development (L&D)
Learning and development (L&D) can help employees better their skills and generate upward mobility within their organization. Learning initiatives and growth opportunities will encourage employees to flourish and gain increased knowledge that will benefit their careers and teams.
The ROI in L&D will multiply tenfold over time. Long-term growth opportunities boost confidence, engagement and productivity. Meanwhile, L&D initiatives help HR develop a group of well-qualified employees to lead the organization’s future. When an organization invests in its employees’ professional skills, team members feel more confident knowing they’re valued and that there’s a bright future ahead.
Results in wellness won’t occur overnight, but building a core foundation that uplifts and advocates for employees’ mental and physical health will create a more sustainable work culture.
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