In a recent study, The Business Group on Health found that 77% of large employers reported an increase in mental health needs among their workforce with another 16% anticipating an increase in future mental health needs. With the growing push for mental health advocacy, employers need to evaluate their mental health and wellness offerings to cultivate workplace cultures that not only promote well-being but also drive success for the organization. Creating cultures that promote wellness is essential for fostering an environment where employees feel supported and empowered, leading to overall organizational success.
Since June is National Employee Wellness Month, it’s the perfect time for organizations to reflect on their workplace culture and identify opportunities to promote overall wellness.
Understanding the Importance of Workplace Wellness
According to Gallup, 19% of US workers rate their mental health as fair or poor, which was reported to cause four times as many absences as workers with positive mental health. In addition, this missed work cost the economy roughly $4.76 billion from lack of productivity. With 59% of employees stating that workplace stress decreases their productivity, it can be costly for organizations to not invest in wellness programs that support employees and enhance the employee experience. By prioritizing general wellness, as well as mental and physical health, employers can invest back into their employees and their well-being to create a culture of resilience.
Creating a Workplace Culture of Openness and Trust
Building a strong culture that prioritizes wellness and drives productivity doesn’t happen overnight – it takes thorough and intentional programs, dedicated leadership, and effective solutions in place to maintain a healthy workplace culture. From the top down, workplace culture needs to be emulated. By establishing a foundation within the organization through ongoing programs and processes, in addition to necessary tools, like Work Shield, organizations can foster a supportive environment that empowers employees, while improving productivity and overall organizational performance. Using a solution like Work Shield can create trust and transparency, allowing employee voices be heard by providing a safe and secure outlet to report misconduct 24/7.
Integrating Ethical Practices into Daily Operations
To create a positive and resilient workplace, it is crucial for organizations to set a standard of expectations and develop ethical practices in the workplace, such as respect, open communication, accountability, professionalism, or trust. In addition, it is important that organizations implement policies, procedures, and tools that will guide ethical expectations, providing solutions and processes when potential issues arise.
By leveraging third-party solutions for misconduct management, organizations can streamline compliance and maintain ethical expectations for a healthy organizational culture. Through Work Shield, employers can create an ethical workplace and mitigate harmful toxicity and misconduct that can negatively affect workplace culture and employee mental health and wellness.
As organizations continue to evaluate wellness in their workplace, it’s important to not only consider programming and solutions that support wellness, but also empower employees and protect the organization.
