A business which truly cares about the wellbeing of its employees is in a strong position to become a leader in its industry.

Because a happy and healthy workforce that feels supported and valued will naturally work more productively and creatively.

Following a turbulent few years during the pandemic, the wellbeing of the workforce really came under the spotlight as people struggled mentally and emotionally partly due to the lack of social interaction. It also shifted the landscape of business operation, with a switch towards remote and hybrid working that had never been seen before.

This means that more businesses – from smaller firms with a handful of employees to corporations with hundreds or thousands of workers – are more aware of meeting the wellbeing needs of their teams.

But how exactly is this achieved?

It turns out that the whole concept of employee wellbeing is underpinned by five critical pillars: Physical, Mental, Social, Financial, and Professional.

Let's delve into each of these five pillars of employee wellbeing, exploring their importance and how they collectively contribute to cultivating and maintaining a healthy workplace environment.

Physical Wellbeing

This is the most straightforward of the five pillars, encompassing key factors that contribute to a healthy body – such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, healthy dietary choices, and an active lifestyle overall.

But our busy, fast-paced lives are not always conducive to keeping all these different aspects in balance. Then there are other factors, such as stress or family issues, which can pop up and interfere with an employee’s wellbeing.

This is why many employers are taking additional steps to support their workforce in taking better care of their bodies through an active lifestyle and by providing access to healthier food options at work.

Certain companies are also shifting their focus towards encouraging employees to participate in all sorts of remote wellness activities, such as online cooking classes, smoking reduction programmes, online fitness classes, and meditation practices.

By investing in the physical health of employees, organisations can reduce sick day rates, lower healthcare costs, and boost productivity. Initiatives such as ergonomic workstations, fitness facilities on site, or even subsidised gym memberships can significantly contribute to this pillar of wellbeing.

Mental Wellbeing

The law states that employers must treat physical and mental health equally, and that businesses have a ‘duty of care’ to their workforce.

While some employees may struggle mentally and emotionally at various times in their lives, and perhaps experience feelings of stress and anxiety in relation to their job, there is plenty that the business can do to support the individual.

Creating a supportive environment where employees feel they can openly talk about their issues means that their problems are less likely to build up.

This could mean making sure managers model positive wellbeing behaviours, and ensuring that managers have regular meetings with their staff to check in with them.

Social Wellbeing

The social distancing and isolation that the world experienced for two years – a period we all want to forget about – really served to underline the importance of connection in our lives with friends, relatives, and colleagues.

These social interactions are crucial for humans to thrive. When we miss out on the meetings, the conversations, the social gatherings, it can affect individuals – and ultimately impact on their level of work in the business.

For this reason, it’s a smart move for businesses to organise staff social events and catch-ups outside the office from time to time. In the cases of remote working, social wellbeing can also be nurtured by regular interactions with these employees and organising team bonding virtual meetings.

Financial Wellbeing

Financial stability is a concern for workers in all organisations. For businesses to thrive and succeed, employers need to be aware of the impact that financial issues can have on the mental health of their staff members. They must ensure that employees are not only compensated appropriately, but are given support in accessing health benefit packages, vouchers, or even emergency and pension savings accounts.

These types of measures help employees feel secure about their future and will strengthen their commitment to your organisation.

Professional Wellbeing

People naturally feel more satisfied in their jobs if they are making progress professionally. Therefore, avoiding stagnancy and promoting self-growth is a key to meeting the pillar professional wellbeing.

Of course, there are only so many rungs on the career ladder and not everyone can land the top senior positions. However, your business can also promote professional wellbeing in the workplace by upskilling and reskilling employees.

Training courses, mentoring, and enhanced learning and development programmes are among the measures which can be taken to foster positive professional wellbeing.

Conclusion

Here at Reverl we live and breathe exceptional employee wellbeing support, which is why we have produced simple-to-use software to help businesses stay ahead of the game in looking after their people.

Businesses of all sizes can really set themselves apart from their competitors by going the extra mile with proactive approaches to improving the wellbeing of their employees.

It all begins with those five pillars: physical, mental & emotional, social, financial, and professional.

A commitment to the five pillars of employee wellbeing is a commitment to the holistic health of both the workforce and the organisation itself.

 Suggested reading: Employee Wellbeing: Where To Start