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Think you can’t afford employee health and well-being initiatives?
Posted by: Maxine | Posted on: February 16th, 2012 | 0 Comments
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.
SMILE – PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER YOU
Posted by: Maxine | Posted on: February 16th, 2012 | 0 Comments
When paying at the counter for my car parking last week I was fumbling in my handbag to find the discount card. To my suprise the gentleman behind the counter said ‘Don’t worry I know you and I know you have a card’. So what?
Well the reason I was suprised is that I am not a regular user of this car park and hadn’t been there for at least 4 months yet the man remembered me. Why?
Am I the most stunning looking women in Leeds? – No
Have I some obvious disfigurement? – No
He said ‘ I remember you because you always SMILE’.
I must admit it made me feel good to know that someone remembered me for being nice and what is more he reduced the parking charge because I was only 5 minutes over the change over time so I saved money too! Another reason to SMILE
I know that at times there may not seem much to smile about but looking miserable will not make things any better either. I am sure many of us have worked with a ‘Moaning Minnie’ who sees everything in a negative way. These people can very quickly lower the morale of the workplace.
Someone with a cheery smile can lighten up a room, change the mood of others and make the whole place a much more pleasant environment to work in.
So get out there and SMILE – Hopefully people will smile back and we can all feel much better!