Workplace Well-being: What it Means and Why it’s Essential

Wellness and well-being: What’s the difference?

“Wellness” and “well-being” are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. Simply put, well-being is the overall quality of someone’s life and accounts for the whole person and their lifestyle, including emotional, mental, physical health and more.  On the other hand, wellness specifically refers to a person’s state of physical health and their capacity and energy to pursue their life goals without chronic illness.

Key pillars of well-being

When we enjoy what we do, have meaningful relationships with people, manage finances well, have the energy to get things done, and enjoy our community, we are more likely to live a thriving and healthy life. Here are the elements of well-being that come together to create a healthy lifestyle.

It is more critical to address well-being in the workplace now than ever, especially since employee burnout is a concerning issue for many companies. Workplace well-being encompasses physical, mental, and emotional health and is essential to employees’ productivity. Successful workplace well-being programs are fully integrated into the culture of the organization. Workplace well-being is more than just providing a gym membership; it is about building trust with your employees and creating a culture and environment that genuinely cares about all aspects of their health and wellness. Creating a workplace well-being initiative that benefits employees is critical to ensuring an organization thrives in today’s fast-paced world.

1. Career. Career well-being refers to employees’ ability to enjoy and find meaning in their work. When employees feel their employer cares about their well-being, they are 71% less likely to be experiencing burnout, 36% more likely to thrive in their overall lives, and five times more likely to trust their organization’s leadership.
2. Social. Social well-being refers to an employee’s ability to have meaningful relationships and connections with people, including family, friends, and coworkers. Social well-being is a crucial aspect of a person’s overall well-being.
3. Financial. Financial well-being refers to an employee’s ability to manage their finances efficiently. It means having a budget where you can make choices to meet your needs and enjoy life comfortably.
4. Physical. Physical well-being refers to an employee’s ability to live healthily without stress or fatigue. Perhaps this is what we think when “well-being” is brought up. However, it is essential to note that physical well-being is only one aspect of a person’s overall well-being.
5. Community. Community well-being refers to an employee’s ability to find fulfillment and satisfaction in their communities and where they live and work.
   

What is workplace well-being?

It is more critical to address well-being in the workplace now than ever, especially since employee burnout is a concerning issue for many companies. Workplace well-being encompasses physical, mental, and emotional health and is essential to employees’ productivity. Successful workplace well-being programs are fully integrated into the culture of the organization. Workplace well-being is more than just providing a gym membership; it is about building trust with your employees and creating a culture and environment that genuinely cares about all aspects of their health and wellness. Creating a workplace well-being initiative that benefits employees is critical to ensuring an organization thrives in today’s fast-paced world.

For employers, it is imperative to think about well-being as a means to connect employees in ways that benefit the collective instead of ways to make your employees more productive. Factors such as unsustainable workloads, inadequate training and support, and unclear expectations contribute to stress levels in employees and subsequently lead to burnout. As leaders, it is essential to address the issue of psychological safety at work by creating safe spaces and encouraging well-being in the workplace by actively listening to the needs of our employees and providing them with the necessary support they need.

“Employers should allow and encourage people to set boundaries around their work and ensure that managers are implementing a culture of well-being rather than a culture of overwork,” writes Shellene Drakes-Tull for The Globe and Mail. Leaders should also model behaviours that encourage well-being. As leaders, we set a clear example for our team members to follow when we model positive behaviours. When workplaces have systems that care for their employees, the organization and people thrive.