WHO defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. And, CDC recognizes that individuals with high levels of well-being are more productive at work and are more likely to contribute to their communities. When we speak of well-being, it encompasses both the physical and emotional health of a person, and it extends beyond the home front and into the workplace. For this reason, creating an engaging and productive work environment that caters to the health, happiness, and the overall quality of life of the employees is crucial for the growth of a business.
Employee Well-being Over the Years
You may think that the concept of ensuring health and well-being at the workplace is new, but it actually goes back to 1700 when Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini published his comprehensive research ‘Diseases of Workers’ describing the relation between physical workplace conditions and their health impact on workers. Later in that century, the discovery of chimney sweeps’ carcinoma by England’s Percivall Pott led to a series of mitigations that resulted in the first Chimney Sweepers Act in 1788.
Although a number of occupational diseases have been identified since, the evolution of wellness programs has been a slow process. Most organizations operating in today’s technologically advanced work environment continue the 8-hours a day policy instituted by Ford about a century ago. And while companies have followed suit after the revolutionary Johnson & Johnson’s Live for Life program of the 1970s, many failed to recognize that well-being at the workplace is not limited to the physical health of employees. It wasn’t until the US occupational safety and health movement in the late 1980s that companies started considering psychological well-being issues as part of their workplace wellness strategy. Nearly four decades later, India rolled out its Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
However, après-statute we still await significant progress in employee well-being policies – 80% of the Indian workforce experience mental health issues, Deloitte Mental Health Survey 2022, highlighted. Another study by Loop flagged that only a meager 28% of employers include mental health services in their health benefit packages. These stats indicate that organizations need to understand well-being in a holistic manner before strategizing their health support policies. Rather than scratching the surface with mandatory employee assistance programs, organizations have to realize the role of employee well-being in the long-term growth of their businesses.
How can negative mental health affect work life?
A stressful work environment doesn’t only affect an employee’s well-being, but also incurs considerable economic impact on organizations. The global economy loses an estimated US$ 1 trillion every year as a result of lost productivity caused by mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety at the workplace. Work-related stress also gives rise to several occupational phenomena – burnout being one of the most common of them. Although not classified as a medical condition by the International Classification of Diseases, chronic workplace stress results in much greater manifestations that negatively impact a person’s professional and personal lives. Professionals experience a lack of motivation, unwillingness to engage in activities, feelings of detachment, and a depleting sense of achievement throughout their work life, and perhaps beyond.
When the workforce undergoes such exhaustion, a range of behavioral changes can interfere with their performance at work. This can increase absenteeism, eventually spiraling down to employee attrition. A WTW report revealed that 64% of organizations experienced talent retention challenges in the last year. Higher attrition rates tend to reflect poorly on the organization and can impact its brand value in the market, including clients’ willingness to do business with the company. Attracting new talent also becomes challenging.
Organizations must go beyond the conventional approaches if they intend to develop, execute and maintain an effective employee well-being policy. Simply providing in-paper solutions like day-offs and insurance coverage, while important, may not be sufficient. It is the need of the hour that companies focus on a human-centric approach. They must be attentive to the overall physical and mental health of their people, and develop purpose-driven employee experience that allows professionals to WorkWell. In fact, UKG’s survey stated 88% of Indian employees are in favor of switching from a high paying job to one that supports their mental health
Here are a few things that leaders should incorporate into the framework while developing an employee well-being program:
Empower Employees With the Ability To Choose
It is human nature to be inclined towards conditions that are appreciative, approachable, and inclusive. Employees are more likely to be productive if they feel that the organization considers their comfort while taking up projects, assigning tasks, and planning workflow. To do so, organizations have to drop the one-shoe-fits-all approach and add more flexibility to their work culture.
It is understandable that more and more Indian professionals are now insisting that their employers provide them flexibility in terms of work hours and alternating between office & home. It takes away the pressure of working on imposed deadlines, while ensuring ownership of the tasks. It also helps them reduce the stress of commuting and other day-to-day challenges. They will be able to conveniently balance their professional and personal responsibilities – thus feeling more accomplished at the end of the day.
Providing flexibility can also include maintaining premises that are open 24×7 so that employees can come in and leave at any time of the day. On top of that, location, accessibility, and employee safety also come into the picture. Max Estates can address these through their Grade A+ assets in prime locations with proximity to transport networks and stringent security protocols, wherein, the occupants are provided with flexibility to suit their requirements.
Thought-Igniting Work Environment
The right physical environment in a workplace can be extremely beneficial for employees to WorkWell on a daily basis. Thoughtfully designed, innovative office spaces that stimulate the senses can contribute immensely to eliminating fatigue and improving the cognitive function of people working in an office. The inflow of natural light and high air quality standards should be the bare minimum that organizations should look for to support employee health, both physically and emotionally.
Open floor plans, biophilic architecture, and thought-provoking art add to the vibrancy of a workplace, which can translate into employees feeling lively every time they step into the workplace. Like, all Max Estates properties are equipped with recreational areas that allow peaceful micro-breaks that can help in reducing stress and preventing subsequent burnouts. Collaborative zones, open green spaces, and multi-functional areas outside the conventional offices help boost creativity and promote engagement – all leading to a healthier workforce for our occupants.
Social Engagement Beyond Work
The best ideas happen in the most unusual places, and deliberations on ideas are quite important for driving ground-breaking innovations. Neither of these can happen if employees spend most of their work days at their desks with a pile of tasks to complete. The case in point is that career-driven professionals will not be able to bring the best to the table if they work in isolation. Organizations will have to go beyond huddles and offsites as these are only occasional events. They have to provide spaces for employees to regularly communicate and collaborate. This not only helps disrupt the monotony of day-to-day work but also ensures that employees do not fall into the rabbit hole of isolation and loneliness.
However, it is understandable that companies may not have the resources or convenience to arrange events frequently. Pulse vertical at Max Estates solves this problem by curating and executing a monthly calendar of activities across genres, on weekdays and weekends. Professionals have the flexibility to pick and choose based on their convenience and interest. Additional amenities like a sports arena, food court and common break-out areas offer occupants the opportunity to interact with employees from other teams or organizations.
WorkWell Philosophy
One of the major challenges employees continue to face is finding the balance between work and non-work-related tasks. This was prevalent even before the pandemic hit the world with its atrocities. With the pandemic-induced burnout coming into the picture, employees now want a more balanced life – at and outside work. Max estates’ developments personify their WorkWell mantra, a unique amalgamation of attention to the physical, social, intellectual and spiritual well-being of users of the office space, creating a true balance between life and work.
In a study conducted by PwC, 95% of millennials considered work-life balance important for them, indicating that tangible incentives may not compensate for work-life balance for the new-age workforce. Most often than not, working professionals have to push their personal needs to the after-hours or weekends. Organizations can help their employees draw the balance they seek by choosing a well-located workplace with amenities in close proximity. For instance, the Hub at Max Towers is furnished with facilities and service providers on-site, so that the occupants can take care of their weekend chores on workdays. A well-equipped fitness center tends to their physical well-being, and amenities like laundry services, salon, retail, and organic farmers’ market take care of the essential needs.
While organizations are moving in the right direction with health insurance coverages and employee assistance programs, these are often limited to the physical aspect of health. For decades, the psychosocial and emotional dimensions of employee well-being have remained an afterthought. Many companies fall short while devising a comprehensive plan for holistic employee well-being – due to the lack of understanding or suitable resources. Fully-serviced office spaces provided by developers like Max Estates can be of great help for organizations to incorporate employee well-being into their daily functions. The holistic well-being of the workforce is starting to become a topic of discussion amongst human resource leaders worldwide in recent years—a welcome development for sure.
