Think you can’t afford employee health and well-being initiatives?

Think again.

In challenging economic times businesses can benefit more than ever by investing in employee health and well-being. The health and well-being of people working within a business or organisation, at any level, directly affects its performance and inevitably the all important ‘bottom line’. We know that stressed employees are more likely to be inefficient, disengaged, absent, resign or subject to disciplinary measures. Their negativity can also impact on other members of staff. These factors add cost by way of sick pay, overtime, recruitment, training, poor accuracy, dismissal procedures and potential loss of clients. SME’S can be particularly badly affected as roles tend to be more defined with less scope to cope with unplanned absences.

It has to be said that not all stress is bad. A certain amount of stress is necessary to motivate us and too little stress can actually make us bored and disinterested. It is the difference between the stress that motivates and the stress which causes ineffectiveness or illness that needs to be addressed.

It can be forgotten that factors outside the workplace, such as money worries, employment or illness issues within the family can adversely affect a person’s performance at work and impact on even the best run businesses. As an employer or manager you may not be able to help directly, but it does pay to be aware of such a situation so as to be able to monitor that person and minimize risk to the business.

Stress related problems can have both physical and mental causes and equally can manifest themselves both physically and mentally; illness, aches and pains, RSI, tiredness right through to time off work with a note from the doctor saying ‘work related stress’.

In times when it can be difficult to justify ‘across the board’ salary increases measures directed at staff well-being can be doubly beneficial. You are not only showing that you care, but you are helping to retain key staff for the time when business picks up, as well as ticking a number of Health and Safety boxes.

Soft Benefits

Soft Benefits – employee benefits that are not financial in nature
Over the last few years the workload of many employees has increased yet, due to tights budgets, their pay has remained frozen or increases have been small.  This un-rewarded extra work can lead to low morale and discontent.

Companies who wish to show their staff that they are valued are looking to introduce ‘soft benefits’ which are not only appreciated by the employees but can offer substantial benefits to the business at a comparatively low cost.

Not all employees’ wish to take advantage of these ‘soft benefits’ but in many cases the fact that they are available means that they feel valued.

Companies who offer benefits to their employees often attract high calibre employees who are productive, motivated and loyal.

Soft benefits provided by companies include :-

• Workplace massage
• Health and Well-being sessions
• Gym membership
• Zumba classes
• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Giving employee a day off for their birthday